Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, a Political Scientist at the University of Ghana, has said history will remember President John Mahama as the first to remove a Chief Justice.
According to Dr Zaato, the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo is the biggest achievement of the John Mahama-led government.
He asserted that when constitutional law is being taught, Mahama’s removal of the Chief Justice will be given as an example.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 on September 1, 2025, Dr Zaato stated, “History will not remember constitutionality, no. History will remember that under this constitution, in this Fourth Republic, it was His Excellency John Dramani Mahama who was the first to fire a sitting Chief Justice, a member of the coequal arms of government”, Dr Zaato said.
“Tomorrow, when constitutional law is being taught, this example will always come up. So far, it is probably the biggest achievement of this government, the removal of the Chief Justice”.
“No matter how you call it, you say it was His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama who sacked the Chief Justice. That’s a fact. It doesn’t matter whether it’s constitutional or not. He wrote the letter saying, you are sacked”, he stressed.
His comment follows President John Dramani Mahama has sack of the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect.
President Mahama today received a first report from the five-member committee he constituted to investigate three petitions brought against Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
In a post on Facebook by the Jubliee House account, it read, “Article 146 committee submits first report on petitions seeking removal of Chief Justice.
President John Dramani Mahama received, this morning, the first report of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry, which is probing three petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
Presenting the report at a brief ceremony at the Presidency, the Committee’s Chair, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, said the panel conducted its work in camera, in line with Article 146(7) and refrained from public commentary despite “blatant false statements made about members of the committee and our work.”
“In camera proceedings are not the same as in secret,” he noted, explaining that limited procedural details could be shared without disclosing the substance.
On the first petition, filed by Mr. Daniel Ofori, the committee heard evidence from 13 witnesses on behalf of the petitioner. The Chief Justice, who also testified and was cross-examined, called 12 witnesses, including experts.
In all, the panel received about 10,000 pages of documentary exhibits from both sides. Each side was represented by four lawyers.
“After critical and dispassionate examination and assessment of all the evidence, including the expert evidence against the provisions of the Constitution and the relevant laws, we have, without fear or favour, arrived at a recommendation on the first petition,” the Chair said, before handing the recommendation to the President in a sealed envelope.
The Chair disclosed that the second petitioner, as well as the Chief Justice, requested an adjournment of the second petition, which the committee granted.
“Accordingly, we shall be reporting on the second and third petitions in due time,” he said.
Hours after President Mahama received the committee reports, Chief Justice Torkornoo was sacked with immediate effect.
“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 Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect,” the statement said.
“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 concluded.
Watch the video below:
CJ Torkonoo Removed: History will remember President Mahama as the first to remove a Chief Justice. The EC Chair is next – Dr. Joshua Zaato#3NewsGH pic.twitter.com/zJ8R6Bje6F
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 1, 2025