The Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association have jointly called on President John Dramani Mahama to reinstate Ghana’s suspended Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, raising concerns over the legality and transparency of her removal from office.
In a statement issued on August 14, 2025, the two legal bodies described Ghana as a country with a strong tradition of upholding the rule of law and urged the government to immediately reverse the April 22 suspension. They also demanded that Justice Torkornoo be granted full and fair process in any disciplinary proceedings, including transparent access to hearings for her legal team.
The groups further pressed for the creation of clear procedural rules and a defined timeline for the investigative committee to conclude its work, warning that such safeguards are critical to protecting judicial independence.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Attorney-General has filed an application to strike out a judicial review brought by Justice Torkornoo. The suspended Chief Justice is seeking to dismiss one of the three petitions for her removal, arguing that the group behind it the Shining Stars of Ghana is unregistered and its members unknown.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai countered that these claims are baseless and should not halt the work of the Article 146 investigative committee.
Background
President Mahama suspended Justice Torkornoo on April 22, 2025, after determining that three undisclosed petitions alleging misconduct and incompetence had established a prima facie case. Acting under Article 146(6) of the Constitution, he formed a five-member panel chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang to investigate. Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior Supreme Court judge, was appointed Acting Chief Justice.
The decision sparked widespread backlash. The Ghana Bar Association labelled the suspension unconstitutional, citing the absence of a published Constitutional Instrument as required under Article 296. The Centre for Democratic Movement criticised the panel’s composition as politically biased, while Justice Torkornoo herself condemned the process as “arbitrary” and “cruel,” vowing not to resign. The New Patriotic Party also warned the move threatened Ghana’s democratic principles.
