President Mahama Removes Chief Justice from Office Following Constitutional Inquiry

President John Dramani Mahama has removed Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo from office with immediate effect, following a constitutional investigation into her conduct.

Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications by Felix Kwakye Ofosu who announced this, explained that the President acted in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution.

The decision comes after President Mahama received the report from the Article 146 Committee, which was established to investigate a petition filed by Ghanaian citizen Daniel Ofori. The committee was constituted under Article 146(6) of the Constitution specifically to examine allegations against the Chief Justice.

After reviewing the petition and examining all evidence presented during the inquiry, the committee determined that grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established. 

Based on these findings, the committee recommended Chief Justice Torkornoo’s removal from office.

The Constitution mandates that when such a committee makes a recommendation for removal, the President must act in accordance with that recommendation, leaving no discretionary power in the matter.

This development marks the culmination of a constitutional process that began in March when President Mahama received three separate petitions calling for the Chief Justice’s removal. 

The inquiry process commenced on May 15, 2025, with the committee conducting extensive hearings that included testimony from multiple witnesses and review of thousands of pages of documentary evidence.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD