President John Dramani Mahama has officially removed the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkonoo, from office with immediate effect.
The decision, announced by the Presidency on Monday, follows the submission of a report by a committee constituted under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution to investigate a petition filed by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori. The committee, after reviewing the petition and related evidence, concluded that grounds of “stated misbehaviour” under Article 146(1) had been established against the Chief Justice.
In accordance with Article 146(9) of the Constitution, which mandates the President to act on the recommendations of such a committee, President Mahama endorsed the committee’s findings and effected the removal.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, issued the official communication on behalf of the Presidency.
Justice Torkonoo, who became Chief Justice in 2023, is the first sitting Chief Justice in Ghana’s Fourth Republic to be removed from office through a constitutional impeachment process.
More details are expected in the coming days regarding the committee’s findings and the next steps for the judiciary.
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