Ghanaian President John Mahama has suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo—marking the first time in the nation’s history that a sitting chief justice has been suspended.
The suspension follows three undisclosed petitions seeking her removal. While the contents of the petitions remain private, they triggered a formal investigation. Chief justices in Ghana have security of tenure, meaning they can only be removed for reasons such as incompetence or misconduct.
Critics, including former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, argue the suspension undermines judicial independence. “It’s the biggest assault on the judiciary in the nation’s history,” Dame told the BBC.
Appointed in 2023 by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, Torkornoo is Ghana’s third female chief justice and is responsible for managing the country’s justice system. She previously survived a removal bid dismissed by Akufo-Addo for being procedurally flawed.
Initially, she was not given access to the latest petitions—a move lawyers criticized as a violation of her right to a fair hearing. The petitions were later shared with her, and she submitted a written response. A five-member committee will now review her responses before deciding on her possible removal.
