Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has firmly rejected calls for her resignation, describing the process leading to her removal as unconstitutional, opaque, and politically motivated.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, June 25 at her first public address since the suspension, Justice Torkornoo framed the situation as a defining moment for Ghana’s democracy and judiciary.
“If I resign under these circumstances, I would be endorsing a flawed, unknown, and opaque process as acceptable. It is not, the bizarre proceedings I bring to your attention mark a dangerous twist in our democratic journey, one we ignore at our own peril,” she said.
Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, by President John Mahama after three petitions alleging misconduct were deemed to warrant a formal investigation under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution.
A five-member committee was subsequently established to probe the claims.
However, the process has since been mired in controversy, with growing concerns over transparency, legality, and political interference.
The Chief Justice has filed a challenge at the Supreme Court, seeking to halt the inquiry and alleging serious constitutional violations.
According to her, the current removal process is not only a personal affront but a direct threat to judicial independence and all public officers subject to Article 146 removal procedures.
“Ghana has come too far to allow such unconstitutionalities to pass unchallenged,” she warned.
Justice Torkornoo also detailed what she described as degrading treatment during the process, including body searches, confiscation of personal devices, and the exclusion of her family from hearings held at Osu Castle, a location she called a “high-security zone used to psychologically intimidate”.
Her defiant address marks an unprecedented moment in Ghana’s judicial history and has deepened national debate over executive power, judicial independence, and constitutional integrity.
