By Jones Anlimah
President John Dramani Mahama has removed Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo from office, acting on the recommendation of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry probing petitions seeking her removal.
A statement signed by the Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced that the President, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, has relieved the Chief Justice of her post with immediate effect.
The decision follows the submission of the Committee’s first report on three petitions filed against Justice Torkornoo. The first petition was submitted by Mr. Daniel Ofori, a Ghanaian citizen, and investigated by the Committee in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Earlier on Monday morning, President Mahama received the report at a brief ceremony at the Jubilee House. The Chair of the Committee, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, explained that the panel conducted its work in camera, in line with Article 146(7) and (8), stressing that “in camera proceedings are not the same as in secret”. He emphasized that while limited procedural details were shared, the substance of the hearings was kept confidential to protect the integrity of the process.
Justice Pwamang disclosed that the Committee heard testimony from 13 witnesses for the petitioner and 12 witnesses for the Chief Justice, including expert witnesses, with both sides represented by four lawyers each. In total, the panel reviewed nearly 10,000 pages of documentary exhibits before reaching its conclusion.
“After critical and dispassionate examination and assessment of all the evidence, including the expert evidence against the provisions of the Constitution and the relevant laws, we have, without fear or favour, arrived at a recommendation on the first petition,” Justice Pwamang said before handing over the sealed report.
The Committee Chair also noted that the second petitioner, as well as Justice Torkornoo herself, requested adjournments in relation to the other two petitions, which the panel granted. Reports on these petitions will be presented in due course.
Under Article 146(9), the President is constitutionally required to act in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee, which found grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) and recommended her removal.
Chief Justice Torkornoo’s dismissal marks a significant development in Ghana’s judiciary, making her the latest high-ranking judicial officer to be removed through the constitutional process.
