Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo: Events leading to the Chief Justice's removal

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, bringing to an end a five-month constitutional process that began with her suspension in April. The presidency said the decision followed Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, which obliges the president to act on the findings of a judicial inquiry committee.

April: Suspension and backlash
On 22 April 2025, President Mahama suspended Justice Torkornoo after concluding that three petitions alleging “stated misbehaviour” and misconduct established a prima facie case. The move, unprecedented under the Constitution, drew sharp criticism from political parties and civil-society groups. Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior member of the Supreme Court, was appointed as acting chief justice.

The Ghana Bar Association insisted that constitutional procedures be followed strictly and later called for the suspension to be reversed, while advocacy groups voiced concerns about the threat to judicial independence.

Article 146 committee inquiry
After consulting the Council of State, the president formed a five-member committee under Article 146(6) to investigate the petitions. The panel, chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, included Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo, and Prof. James Sefah Dzisah.

One of the petitioners was identified as private citizen Daniel Ofori. In August, the committee heard evidence from former chief justices, serving judges and lawyers. By the close of hearings, it had reviewed about 10,000 pages of documents and taken testimony from dozens of witnesses.

Court challenges
Justice Torkornoo challenged the process in the Supreme Court on 21 May, seeking to halt the inquiry and exclude two panel members. The court dismissed her application a week later. She also petitioned the ECOWAS Court in Abuja for provisional relief, a case still pending as of August.

September: Report and removal
On 1 September, Justice Pwamang submitted the committee’s report to President Mahama at Jubilee House. Within hours, the presidency announced her removal, citing the panel’s conclusion that the constitutional test of “stated misbehaviour” had been met.

Next steps
The presidency is expected to publish its reasons. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie will continue as acting chief justice until a substantive successor is nominated and vetted. Critics, including the opposition New Patriotic Party, warn the episode could undermine public confidence in Ghana’s judiciary, even as the ECOWAS Court deliberates on the suspended judge’s petition.

Timeline