Former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo is poised to mount a legal challenge against her removal from office, setting the stage for a high-stakes constitutional showdown that could test the boundaries of executive power and judicial independence in Ghana.
Her legal team, led by former Attorney-General Nii Ayikoi Otoo, said Saturday that they intend to contest the findings of a presidentially appointed Committee of Inquiry, which last week concluded that Justice Torkornoo had engaged in misconduct warranting her dismissal. The committee’s report, submitted to President John Dramani Mahama on September 1, recommended her immediate removal.
Mr. Otoo, speaking in an interview on September 6, characterized the inquiry as flawed and the outcome as unjust. “We believe the process was deeply unfair and infringed on her constitutional rights,” he said. “This is about setting the record straight—not just for her, but for the integrity of the judiciary.”
Drawing a parallel to the landmark Re: Akoto case, which challenged executive overreach in post-independence Ghana, Mr. Otoo suggested that history would vindicate their decision to pursue the matter in court. “When Dr. Danquah stood up for fundamental rights, few understood the significance. Today, he is celebrated for his courage. We believe this case will have similar weight.”
The move signals a brewing constitutional battle that legal analysts say could clarify the extent of presidential authority over judicial appointments and removals—a gray area in Ghana’s legal framework that has rarely been tested at this level.
If filed, the case would be the first of its kind to challenge the dismissal of a sitting or former Chief Justice in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, potentially setting a precedent for how allegations of misconduct among the judiciary are handled in the future.
Representatives from the presidency and the Committee of Inquiry have yet to comment on the planned legal action.
