The Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, through a statement on September 1, 2025, announced that Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has been removed from her position.
He further stated that she has received a letter of termination, but the reasons for her dismissal will not be made public.
He added that the letter contained the reason behind Justice Torkornoo’s removal and has been issued by the Secretary to the President, Dr Calister Mahama.
However, the said letter appears to have been leaked.
Even though GhanaWeb cannot confirm its authenticity, the presidency has not refuted it.
The letter, which The Law Platform shared on social media on September 3, 2025, quoted portions of the report by the five-member committee set up by President John Dramani Mahama under the 1992 Constitution.
The committee, led by Justice Gabriel Scotte Pwamang, recommended that Justice Torkornoo should be removed.
Among the reasons why the committee found her guilty are avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds in her travel with her husband to Tanzania on one occasion, and with her daughter to the United States of America on another occasion.
The committee also found her guilty of unjustifiably breaching “the provisions in Article 296(a) and (b) of the 1992 Constitution” in transferring a judge.
“[1.9]. In the opinion of the committee, the travel expenses which the Chief Justice heaped on the Judicial Service when she travelled on holidays in September 2023, first to Tanzania with her husband and second, to the United States of America with her daughter, together with the payment of per diem to the spouse and daughter of the Chief Justice, constitute unlawful expenditure of public funds. It cannot be justified in law or policy. Those acts constitute avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds and, in the view of the committee, to have been occasioned by the overall head of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service, whose duty it is to guard public resources allocated by the Government, is caught within the spectrum of stated misbehaviour.
“[3.4.] The committee states without fear or favour that the Chief Justice unjustifiably breached the provisions in Article 296(a) and (b) of the Constitution, 1992, in the way and manner that she transferred Mr. Baiden. Her conduct amounted to misbehaviour,” parts of the letter read.
The committee said in the letter that the actions of Justice Torkornoo “fall within the meaning and categories of stated misbehaviour as provided under Article 146(1) of the Constitution, 1992.”
It went on to state that “[14.1]. In view of the findings of the Committee in paragraphs 1.9, 3.4, 6.7, 7.5, and 9.5 above, the Committee recommends to the President in accordance with Article 146(7) of the Constitution, that Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey-Torkornoo ought to be REMOVED from office.”
Read the full letter below:
