President John Dramani Mahama has removed Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office with immediate effect.
The decision follows the recommendation of a constitutional committee established under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution to investigate allegations of stated misbehavior brought against the Chief Justice.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Office of the President and signed by Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidency confirmed that the decision takes effect immediately.
The President received the final report from the committee, which was constituted under Article 146(6) to investigate a petition filed by Ghanaian citizen Daniel Ofori.
After months of hearings and review, the committee concluded that grounds of stated misbehavior under Article 146(1) had been established against Chief Justice Torkornoo.
Consequently, the committee recommended her removal from office. In accordance with Article 146(9), President Mahama was constitutionally obligated to act upon the recommendation.
The sealed report was presented to the President at a brief ceremony held at the Jubilee House on Monday, September 1, by the committee’s chairman, Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang.
Adjournment on Second Petition
The committee, which is also handling two additional petitions filed in March this year, announced the adjournment of proceedings on the second petition.
This followed a joint request by both the petitioner and the Chief Justice, who is currently suspended.
Justice Pwamang explained that while the committee is mandated to act with urgency, it must also ensure fairness and due process.
“Accordingly, we shall be reporting on the second and third petitions in due time,” he said during the report presentation at the Jubilee House.
False Reports
Justice Pwamang emphasized that all proceedings were conducted in camera as required by the Constitution, dismissing what he described as “false statements” circulating about the panel’s work.
“In camera proceedings are not the same as secret proceedings,” he clarified. “While procedural details may be disclosed, the substance of the evidence remains confidential.”
He revealed that the first petition, brought by Daniel Ofori, involved testimonies from 13 witnesses for the petitioner and 12 for the Chief Justice. Each party was represented by four lawyers, and the committee reviewed nearly 10,000 pages of documentary evidence, including expert analyses.
“After critical and dispassionate examination of all the evidence — including expert testimony — against the provisions of the Constitution and relevant laws, we have, without fear or favour, arrived at our recommendation on the first petition,” Justice Pwamang stated.
The committee has now concluded its work on the first petition, and its recommendation has resulted in the removal of Chief Justice Torkornoo from office.
