President John Dramani Mahama takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony, at Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.AP Photo

Ghana: Tensions rise as chief justice Torkornoo suspended

by · Africanews

Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, has been suspended following three misconduct petitions, in a move that has sparked political controversy and divided public opinion.

This marks the first time in the nation’s history that a sitting chief justice has been suspended.

President John Mahama's administration claims the suspension is necessary to allow a fair investigation.

However, opposition leaders accuse the president of interfering in the judiciary and attempting to install judges sympathetic to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame condemned the action as “the biggest assault on the judiciary in the nation’s history,” citing procedural missteps, including the delayed delivery of the petitions to the chief justice.

Torkornoo, who was appointed in 2023 as Ghana’s third female chief justice, has not publicly responded to the allegations.

A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the claims, with two additional petitions emerging after the suspension.

The controversy has intensified the debate over judicial independence in Ghana, as the nation awaits the outcome of the investigation.

On the same subject

Ghana: President Mahama suspends Chief Justice Gertrude TorkornooThe decision, announced on April 22, follows three petitions calling for her removal and was made in consultation with the Council of State, in accordance with the 1992 Constitution.Rédaction Africanews, 22 Apr 2025ECOWAS Meets in Ghana to Tackle Member WithdrawalsWest African leaders are gathering in Accra, Ghana, for a two-day meeting to address the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina FasoRédaction Africanews, 22 Apr 2025219 rescued from human trafficking and cybercrime ring in GhanaIn a sweeping operation led by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), 219 people—primarily foreign nationals—have been rescued from a suspected human trafficking and cybercrime ring operating in Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra.Rédaction Africanews, 18 Apr 2025Foreigners face gold trading ban in Ghana beginning May 1A newly established regulatory authority for gold exports in Ghana declared on Monday that foreign buyers will no longer be permitted to purchase or trade artisanally mined gold in the nation, which is Africa's leading gold producer.Dominic Wabwireh, 15 Apr 2025China says 3 Chinese crew members suspected of being kidnapped from a boat off Ghana are safeThree Chinese nationals suspected of being kidnapped off Ghana's coast are safe, China's foreign ministry said Monday, without giving details.Rédaction Africanews, 31 Mar 2025