President John Mahama has dismissed the Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Torkonoo, with immediate effect following the submission of a probe report that found her guilty of misconduct…….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The decision came after a five-member committee established under Article 146(1) of Ghana’s Constitution recommended her removal from office.
The Constitution makes it mandatory for the president to act on the committee’s findings once such a recommendation is made.
Petitioners had alleged that Justice Torkonoo used public funds to sponsor a vacation for her husband and daughter.
They all alleged that she sought to influence former President Nana Akufo-Addo to appoint five judges of her choice to the Supreme Court without following due process, and breached procurement procedures in the award of contracts.
In a press conference held on June 25, the Chief Justice rejected all the allegations and accused the committee of abusing her rights during the proceedings.
She had earlier made several legal attempts to stop the investigation, challenging it at both the High Court and the Supreme Court, but her cases were dismissed. The courts ruled that the president had acted within the law.
Justice Torkonoo also took the matter to the ECOWAS Community Court in Nigeria, arguing that her human rights had been violated, but the investigation continued.
The committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang, reviewed thousands of pages of documents, heard testimony from multiple witnesses, and eventually submitted its report to the president in line with constitutional provisions.
President Mahama signed the order for her removal four months after the committee began its work, bringing an end to her tenure.
The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly as Justice Torkonoo had survived a previous removal attempt in 2024.
In that case, the then-President, Nana Akufo-Addo dismissed an earlier petition against her, describing the allegations at that time as insufficient…..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
