Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has been formally removed from office after a presidential directive implemented the findings of a constitutional committee that upheld petitions citing her for stated misbehaviour.
The announcement came in a statement from the presidency on Monday, September 1, 2025, which stressed that the action was taken “in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution.” The decision followed the submission of the committee’s final report earlier that morning.
The panel, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, had spent four months examining evidence after President John Mahama referred multiple petitions, first brought forward by citizen Daniel Ofori, to the Council of State, which in turn advised that a prima facie case existed. On that basis, Justice Torkonoo was suspended in April and a five-member body was established to conduct a full inquiry.
By constitutional design, the president is obligated to act on the committee’s recommendations. Article 146(9) explicitly directs that “The President shall, in each case, act in accordance with the recommendations of the committee.”
According to the presidency’s statement, signed by spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkonoo, from office with immediate effect.
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 Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the committee’s recommendation.”
Alongside Justice Pwamang, the inquiry team included Supreme Court Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and University of Ghana associate professor James Sefah Dzisah.
With Torkonoo’s suspension in April, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie of the Supreme Court was designated to serve as acting Chief Justice pending the final outcome. All hearings of the committee were conducted behind closed doors, as mandated by the Constitution.
Read the statement below.
