President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo from office after an investigative panel found credible evidence of misconduct, the government announced Monday.
The move follows the conclusion of an inquiry mandated under Article 146 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which examined a petition filed by a private citizen, Daniel Ofori. The committee, established by the Chief Justice’s peers and authorized under Article 146(6), found that allegations of “stated misbehavior” had been substantiated through testimony and documentation presented during the proceedings.
In line with Article 146(9), the president is constitutionally obligated to act on the committee’s recommendation. The dismissal takes immediate effect.
“The removal was done strictly in accordance with constitutional procedures,” said Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson to the president and Minister for Government Communications. He noted that both the petitioner and the Chief Justice were given full opportunity to present their cases during the inquiry.
The removal marks a rare shakeup at the highest level of Ghana’s judiciary, raising questions about judicial accountability and the political implications of such high-profile constitutional processes.
