Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo
President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, with immediate effect.
A statement issued by the Jubilee House on Monday, September 1, 2025, announced that the decision was taken in line with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, following the submission of a report by the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry.
The statement explained: “This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori. 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.”
Under the Constitution, the President is bound to act in accordance with the Committee’s recommendation.
Earlier on Monday, the Article 146 Committee, chaired by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, presented its first report on petitions seeking the Chief Justice’s removal. According to the Presidency, the panel was considering three separate petitions.
Justice Pwamang emphasized that the proceedings were held in camera, in line with Article 146(7) and (8), and clarified that such proceedings are not “secret” but designed to maintain confidentiality.
On the first petition, filed by Mr. Ofori, the Committee heard testimony from 13 witnesses for the petitioner and 12 witnesses, including experts, for the Chief Justice. In total, nearly 10,000 pages of documentary exhibits were reviewed, with each side represented by four lawyers.
“After critical and dispassionate examination and assessment of all the evidence, including the expert evidence, against the provisions of the Constitution and the relevant laws, we have, without fear or favour, arrived at a recommendation on the first petition,” Justice Pwamang noted while handing the sealed report to the President.
He added that both the second petitioner and the Chief Justice requested an adjournment on the remaining petitions, which the Committee granted.
Reports on those petitions will be submitted later.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Torkornoo has been actively contesting her removal. Only weeks ago, she filed a case against the Government of Ghana at the ECOWAS Court.
