Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has raised serious concerns over the ongoing process to remove her from office, describing it as a blatant violation of Ghana’s Constitution and a threat to judicial independence.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Palms Hotel in Accra on Wednesday, 25th June 2025, Justice Torkornoo said the process being used to adjudicate her removal fails to meet even the most basic standards of due process and fair hearing.
She warned that its implications go far beyond her personal circumstances.
“Unfortunately, every step of the removal process being undertaken against me is being done in a manner that breaks every rule on how justice is delivered in our country,” she stated, warning of “serious violations of the Constitution and law.”
According to the suspended Chief Justice, the process threatens to undermine the safeguards put in place by the 1992 Constitution to protect not just judges, but also the heads of independent constitutional bodies, such as the Electoral Commission and the Auditor-General.
Justice Torkornoo criticized the secrecy surrounding the proceedings, pointing out that her requests for the hearings to be held publicly were rejected by the Supreme Court. She also noted that she was denied access to the petition documents and prima facie determinations allegedly submitted by the President.
“How does anyone defend themselves without a copy of the complaints that they have been summoned to come and answer to?” she asked.
She accused the committee handling the matter of flouting basic tenets of natural justice. Among her allegations are
- Her lawyer was ignored on the first day of proceedings because she wasn’t present with him.
- She has been denied information about the charges she is supposed to defend.
- Petitioners, including Mr. Daniel Ofori and the group Shining Stars, were allowed to skip testimony entirely.
- She was barred from entering the hearing room with a family member and subjected to physical searches.
- The hearing was moved to a high-security location—Adu Lodge—which she believes was intended to intimidate her, citing the facility’s historical connection to the murder of some judges in 1981.
Justice Torkornoo emphasized that her protest was not for personal benefit, but for the integrity of Ghana’s democracy.
“This process will affect how all Superior Court Justices and future Chief Justices may be removed from office,” she cautioned. “The danger it holds for the development of the nation’s democracy is too significant to ignore.”
The embattled Chief Justice described the actions against her as a “carefully staged” effort to oust her from office for political gains. She rejected calls from some quarters urging her to resign or retire quietly, stating that doing so would amount to endorsing a “model of injustice” and encouraging a dangerous precedent.
“If I resign under these circumstances, I will be saying that this flawed, unknown and opaque process is acceptable. It is not,” she stated emphatically.
She emphasized that her resistance to resignation was not about clinging to power, but about defending the integrity of the judiciary and rule of law in Ghana.
“This is not just about me. Behind me is every judge in the country. If this is successful, it will be tried on anyone.”
The Chief Justice warned that the manner in which the removal process is being carried out could destabilize Ghana’s democratic progress and erode judicial independence.
“What we are seeing is a perversion of due process, law, and constitutional safeguards. If this is allowed to stand, no judge, commissioner, or public officer will be safe.”
She cited Article 146 of the Constitution, which outlines procedures for removing judges, and emphasized that even the President’s suspension warrant lacked the necessary prima facie justification.
In a personal and emotional close to her address, the Chief Justice said she had never taken a bribe or compromised her judicial duty.
“This is the personal treasure of integrity that I live by.”
Throughout her remarks, she affirmed that her fight is not a personal vendetta, but a stand for judicial integrity.
As the proceedings continue, many Ghanaians wait with bated breath the conclusion of the case – the first of its kind in the nation’s history.
Source: Afote Asomdwoe Laryea/ATLFMNEWS
