Ghanaian President John Mahama has suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo following allegations of judicial misconduct, marking an unprecedented moment in the country’s legal history.
The suspension, announced Tuesday, follows the submission of three separate petitions seeking her removal over claims including tampering with court records and the misuse of public funds.
According to a statement from the presidency, the decision to suspend Torkornoo was made “in consultation with the Council of State” after a prima facie case was determined against her. She will remain suspended while a five-member committee conducts a formal investigation into the allegations.
The committee is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang and includes former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo. While the specifics of the accusations have not yet been made public, the inquiry marks the first constitutional process ever initiated against a sitting Chief Justice in Ghana’s history.
Torkornoo, 61, was appointed to the role in June 2023, becoming Ghana’s 15th Chief Justice and the third woman to occupy the nation’s highest judicial seat.
Her suspension underscores President Mahama’s pledge to root out corruption across all levels of government. Since taking office in January, the president has positioned anti-graft reforms at the heart of his administration’s agenda.
The development has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s legal and political establishments, raising questions about judicial independence, institutional accountability, and the broader fight against corruption in West Africa’s second-largest economy.
The investigative committee is expected to deliver its findings in the coming months.
