President John Dramani Mahama has initiated consultations with the Council of State following three separate petitions calling for the removal of the Chief Justice.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 25, the Presidency confirmed that the petitions had been received from various individuals and duly referred to the Council of State in line with constitutional provisions.
“The President has forwarded the three (3) petitions to the Council of State to commence the consultation process mandated by Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution,” the statement, signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, read.
In December 2024, constitutional lawyer Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, popularly called Prof. Azar, petitioned President Akufo-Addo to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for alleged misconduct and incompetence in her administrative role.
Filed under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, the petition claims she unilaterally requested the appointment of five Justices of Appeal to the Supreme Court without consulting the Judicial Council, violating Article 125(4). Prof. Asare clarified that his concerns focused on her administrative conduct, not judicial decisions.
However, this petition was rejected by President Nana Akufo-Addo on the grounds of lack of merit.
It remains unclear whether Prof. Azar resubmitted his petition to President Mahama or the details of the fresh petitions.
