By Godwin Owusu Frimpong
Embattled Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has launched a legal challenge against proceedings seeking her removal from office, citing constitutional breaches and a lack of transparency.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, Justice Torkornoo confirmed that her legal team has filed for judicial review at the High Court. She argued that the ongoing inquiry, conducted under Article 146 of the Constitution, is fundamentally flawed and in breach of established legal principles.
“There has been a total absence of compliance with all known rules of fair hearing,” Justice Torkornoo stated. “That is what has necessitated our application to have the process declared void.”
Justice Torkornoo has voiced strong concerns about the secretive nature of the hearings, currently being held in-camera at Adu Lodge. She alleges the committee investigating her is operating outside the scope of constitutional instrument C.I. 47, raising serious questions about judicial accountability within Ghana.
“My lawyers and I could reach the end of this process, only to be confronted with conclusions based on evidence we’ve never seen,” she warned, highlighting fears that undisclosed documents could be used to justify her removal.
The suspended Chief Justice stressed that the use of unseen material and the overall lack of transparency undermine both Ghana’s legal conventions and the fundamental right to a fair defence.
Justice Torkornoo’s legal action underscores growing tensions surrounding judicial oversight in Ghana, drawing national attention to the integrity of the judicial removal process. The case continues to be closely monitored by legal experts and the public alike.
Godwin Owusu Frimpong
