President John Dramani Mahama has sacked the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect.
It will be recalled, President Mahama suspended the Chief Justice following a prima facie case being determined against her by the Council of State.
Part of the statement read, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, determined that a prima facie case has been established in respect of three petitions against the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
The President has consequently established a committee in compliance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, with the following composition to inquire into the petitions which have been referred to them”.
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.
Meanwhile, Bright Simons the IMANI Africa’s Honorary Vice President, has shared a cryptic message regarding one of Ghana’s arms of government.
According to Bright Simons, the biggest news in Ghana this week will be about the judicial decapitation and the toppling of an arm of government.
He confidently added that one does not need a PhD in Ghana Studies to know it would be politicians slinging at each other.
Bright Simon, in his cryptic post on X on September 1, 2025, wrote, “The grapevine says that the biggest news this week will be about “judicial decapitation” and the “toppling” of the top of an arm of government.
Doesn’t take a PhD in Ghana Studies to know it would be politicians slinging at each other. What about policy people? What policy?”.
Mr Simon’s cryptic post hinted at the possible removal of Ghana’s Chief Justice, suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, from office.
