President John Dramani Mahama has removed Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office following the findings of a formal inquiry into serious misconduct.
The decision came after a five-member committee, led by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang and established under Article 146 of the Constitution, determined that the Chief Justice had engaged in “stated misbehaviour,” including falsifying judicial records and misappropriating public funds.
After reviewing extensive evidence, including testimony from 25 witnesses and over 10,000 pages of documentation, the committee recommended her dismissal, which Mahama enacted immediately.
“After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office,” said the spokesperson to the President, Felix Ofosu, in a statement on Monday.
“President John Dramani Mahama has accordingly removed the Chief Justice from office with immediate effect.”
The removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo represents an unprecedented moment in Ghana’s judicial history—the first instance of a sitting Chief Justice being formally investigated and ousted from office.
Although President Mahama, who assumed office in January, has consistently vowed to strengthen anti-corruption efforts, it remains uncertain whether Torkonoo will ultimately face criminal charges.
