Chief Justice Torkornoo Responds to Calls for Her Removal

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has officially submitted her preliminary response to the petitions calling for her removal from office.

This comes as the 10-day period, which was granted to her to respond to the petitions, expired on Monday, April 7, 2025.

The petitions, received by President John Mahama last month, have sparked national debate and drawn attention to the legal and constitutional processes for handling such matters.

The submission of the Chief Justice’s response marks a key step in the ongoing constitutional process, which may ultimately determine whether a committee will be formed to investigate the allegations against her.

In a letter addressed to President Mahama last week, Justice Torkornoo had requested copies of the petitions and asked for a minimum of seven days to respond, in line with principles of due process and fairness.

Her formal response, which was delivered to the President and the Council of State, will now be considered as part of the consultation process, as mandated by Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution.

Article 146 of the Constitution outlines the procedures for the removal of justices of the superior courts, including the Chief Justice, for reasons of misbehavior, incompetence, or inability to perform their duties.

In cases where the Chief Justice is the subject of a removal petition, the President is required to consult with the Council of State and appoint a committee to investigate the matter.

This process involves a detailed review and recommendations from the committee, after which the President must decide whether the Chief Justice should be removed from office.

The situation remains fluid, as a legal challenge has also been filed by Old Tafo MP, Vincent Ekow Assafuah.

Assafuah is challenging the legality of President Mahama’s initiation of the removal process without first informing the Chief Justice. The case is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court on April 9, 2025.