President Mahama Sacks Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo
On Monday, September 1, 2025, a statement issued by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, confirmed that President John Dramani Mahama has removed Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo from office. The dismissal, enacted under Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, takes effect immediately, as announced in the official statement.
In April 2025, President Mahama had suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo after determining, in consultation with the Council of State, that a prima facie case existed against her based on three petitions filed by citizens. To investigate these petitions, the President established a five-member committee, as mandated by constitutional provisions, to thoroughly examine the allegations raised against her.
The statement from the government elaborated that the Pwamang Committee, tasked with probing the petitions, concluded that there were sufficient grounds of misbehavior as outlined in Article 146(1) of the Constitution. The committee’s findings stemmed from a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori, and after a detailed review of the evidence, it recommended the Chief Justice’s removal from office.
The official statement further clarified that, pursuant to Article 146(9), President Mahama was obligated to act on the committee’s recommendation. It stated, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect,” marking the conclusion of the process initiated by the petitions and the committee’s investigation.
