Ghana’s President suspends Chief Justice who swore him in just four months ago

President John Dramani Mahama has suspended the Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, with immediate effect.

The suspension, said to be related to a batch of three petitions lodged in succession with the president against her this year, comes just four months after the now-suspended chief justice swore Mahama in as president on January 7, 2025.

A statement signed and released Tuesday by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, says the president took the decision after he “in accordance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, determined that a prima facie case has been established” with regard to the three petitions.

The statement further indicated that President Mahama had accordingly set up a 5-member committee “in compliance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State” to look into the three petitions. The petitions, according to the statement, have been referred to the committee, whose composition is as follows:

1. Justice Gabriel Pwamang, Justice of the Supreme Court (Chairman)
2. Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice of the Supreme Court (Member)
3. Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Former Auditor-General (Member)
4. Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, Ghana Armed Forces (Member)
5. James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor at the University of Ghana (Member)

“Pursuant to Article 146(10) of the Constitution and in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, the President has by a warrant suspended the Chief Justice with immediate effect pending the outcome of the committee’s proceedings,” the statement added.

Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was nominated for the position of Chief Justice of Ghana by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, 26 April 2023. 

Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org/Ghana.