“Every step of pocess for my removal breaks rule on how justice is delivered” - Suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo

Suspended Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, has strongly criticized the ongoing proceedings aimed at her removal, describing them as fundamentally flawed and a threat to judicial independence.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Justice Torkornoo stated that “every step of the process for [her] removal breaks the rule on how justice is delivered.”

She insisted that the petition process is riddled with irregularities and politically motivated actions designed to oust her from office unjustly.

“I have received veiled threats that if I don’t resign voluntarily, I will be made to suffer harm. But I will not resign. If I do, this flawed, opaque process will be deemed acceptable — it is not,” she declared.

The Chief Justice, who has over two decades of experience on the bench, noted that she has chosen to resist pressure from individuals who have advised her to step aside to avoid further personal and professional harm.

Instead, she said she feels duty-bound to speak up and challenge what she believes is a dangerous precedent being set in Ghana's judicial history.

“I do not seek to cling to a title or position. However, as a lawyer of 38 years and a judge for 21 years, I consider it my duty to speak up about the administration of justice in this country. The situation I face is a model of injustice I never thought possible,” she added.

Justice Torkornoo emphasized that resigning while proceedings under Article 146 of the Constitution are ongoing is not legally permissible and would jeopardize the entitlements and reputation of any judge or public officer.

“False claims cannot be the basis for resignation. Doing so would only subject one to two cruelties — a judgment based on lies and the loss of everything one has worked for,” she warned.

Her remarks come in response to her suspension by President John Dramani Mahama, who acted on the advice of the Council of State and in line with Article 146(10) of the Constitution.

A five-member committee, chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang of the Supreme Court, has been established to investigate three separate petitions against her.

The committee includes:

1. Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang (Chairman)

2. Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu (Member)

3. Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Former Auditor-General (Member)

4. Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, Ghana Armed Forces (Member)

5. Prof. James Sefah Dzisah, University of Ghana (Member)

Despite the mounting pressure, Justice Torkornoo maintains that she will defend herself vigorously, calling the proceedings “carefully staged” and suggesting they are part of a broader political effort to control the judiciary.

“I have heard commentary that this is all a political charade. If I walk away, the architects of this scheme will claim the allegations were true and that I had no credible defense. I cannot allow that to happen,” she concluded.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith