The Office of the President has announced the receipt of two additional petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, bringing the total number of removal petitions against her to five.
The latest petitions, authored by anonymous individuals, follow three earlier submissions made on February 14 and March 17, 2025, which have already been forwarded to the Council of State for evaluation. The Council determined that there was a prima facie case against the Chief Justice and advised President John Dramani Mahama accordingly.
In response to the Council’s recommendation, President Mahama issued a formal suspension letter to Chief Justice Torkornoo on April 22, 2025, after a committee reviewed the initial petitions and found sufficient grounds for further investigation.
This decision has ignited a national debate regarding judicial independence and the potential politicization of constitutional processes. Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior member of the Supreme Court, has been appointed to serve as Acting Chief Justice during this interim period, as stipulated by Article 144(6) of the Constitution.
Chief Justice Torkornoo received the original petitions and was allotted a 10-day period to respond. She submitted her response on April 7, leading to the conclusion that the allegations necessitated a thorough investigation.
While the specifics of all five petitions remain confidential under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, sources indicate they include allegations of misconduct and abuse of power.
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