President John Mahama has officially dismissed Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, following findings of misconduct in a high-profile probe.
The decision follows a damning report from a five-member committee constituted under Article 146(1) of Ghana’s Constitution, which concluded that the Chief Justice misused public funds and engaged in unethical conduct.
The committee found that Justice Torkonoo used state resources to sponsor a personal vacation for her husband and daughter. Additional allegations included attempts to improperly influence former President Nana Akufo-Addo to appoint judges of her choosing to the Supreme Court and violations of procurement protocols during the awarding of judicial contracts.
Although Justice Torkonoo denied all charges during a June 25 press conference and accused the committee of procedural bias, her legal efforts to halt the investigation were unsuccessful. Both the High Court and the Supreme Court ruled against her, affirming that the president had acted within constitutional limits.
In a further attempt to defend her position, the Chief Justice brought her case before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Nigeria, citing human rights violations. Despite this, the investigative process moved forward.
The committee, led by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang, reviewed extensive documentation and heard multiple witness testimonies before submitting its final report to the president. In line with constitutional mandates, President Mahama acted on the committee’s recommendation and signed her removal order, bringing an end to Justice Torkonoo’s tenure four months after the probe began.
This marks the second time Justice Torkonoo faced a removal attempt. In 2024, former President Akufo-Addo dismissed similar allegations due to a lack of substantial evidence.
