President Mahama gives Chief Justice 10-Day ultimatum to respond to removal petitions
President John Mahama has formally directed Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to submit her response within ten days to petitions seeking her removal from office, marking a significant development in Ghana’s judicial landscape.
The presidential directive, issued in accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, follows three separate petitions filed in February and March 2025 alleging misconduct and abuse of power by the Chief Justice. The petitions were first referred to the Council of State, chaired by former Speaker Doe Adjaho, which provided constitutional consent for the proceedings on March 27.
The process took an unexpected turn when a confidential March 27 correspondence from the Chief Justice’s office was prematurely circulated on social media platforms before official transmission to the Presidency. The leaked document, reportedly addressed to judicial leadership including the President of the Supreme Court and Ghana Bar Association, has prompted the Presidential Secretariat to classify all related materials as restricted.
The ten-day response period, which commenced upon official receipt of the presidential communication, will determine subsequent constitutional steps. Should the Chief Justice’s response prove unsatisfactory, the matter may progress to forming a five-member investigative committee as prescribed by constitutional provisions.
This development recalls Ghana’s 2015 judicial crisis, when investigative revelations led to the dismissal of several lower court judges. However, the current proceedings mark the first potential removal of a Chief Justice under the Fourth Republic’s constitutional framework.
The Judicial Service has declined immediate comment, while the Ghana Bar Association indicates it will issue a formal statement after reviewing all official documentation.
By: Linda Akite
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