Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has expressed the view that the allegations that were made against Madam Gertrude Torkornoo were not strong enough to warrant her removal from office by President John Dramani Mahama.
To her, the removal of the Chief Justice from office has weakened the judiciary.
Speaking in a yet-to-be aired exclusive interview with TV3, Tuesday, September 2, 2025 the member of the Council of State described the processes to remove Torkornoo from office as a “rigmarole”, undeserving of any Judge or Chief Justice.
“They (allegations) lack the gravity that will lead to a grave outcome such as the removal of the head of an institution of justice.
“I pray to God that no Chief Justice, no Judge should go through this rigmarole again,” she noted.
According to Sophia Akuffo, former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo did not get a fair trial in the process leading to her removal as the Chief Justice.
She explained that it was handled as though it was a treason trial.
“She did not get a fair trial. Even though it is not a trial strictly speaking, it was handled as though it were a treason trial.”
The Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from office by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, September 1, 2025.
This was announced in a statement issued by the Minister of Government Communications on Monday, September 1.
“President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkonoo, from office with immediate effect. This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr Daniel Ofori. After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office. Under Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the committee’s recommendation,” the statement said.
This comes after President John Dramani Mahama received the report of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry set up to investigate petitions calling for the removal of Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.
This followed the determination of a prima facie case in three separate petitions that sought the removal of the Chief Justice from office. In line with constitutional requirements, President Mahama constituted a five-member committee to conduct the inquiry.
The committee was chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang of the Supreme Court. Other members included Mr. Daniel Yaw Domelevo, former Auditor-General; Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF); and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor at the University of Ghana.
Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, following the establishment of a prima facie case against her after the receipt of three separate petitions.
Her suspension, carried out in line with Article 146(6) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, was done in consultation with the Council of State.
Subsequently, a five-member committee chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang was appointed by the President to investigate the allegations.
Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, said after presenting the report to the president that “To the committee, our mandate and remit as set out under Article 146 Clauses (7) and (8) of the Constitution is clear and it is to inquire into the petitions in camera, hear the person against whom the petitions have been brought in her defence by herself or by a lawyer or other expert of her choice and then to make a recommendation to the President.”
Credit: 3news