President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo from office, following damning findings of misconduct and misbehaviour by a five-member committee
This unprecedented action, announced on Monday, marks the first time a sitting chief justice has been dismissed under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The decision was communicated through an official letter from the Office of the President, dated September 1, 2025, and signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President.
“His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana has, by Warrant of Removal under his hand and the Presidential Seal, effected your removal from office as Chief Justice and Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, with effect from the date of the warrant,” the letter stated.
The removal follows a petition filed on March 17, 2025, by Mr. Daniel Ofori, a Ghanaian citizen, who accused the Chief Justice of misconduct and “stated misbehaviour” under Article 146(1) of the Constitution.
After assessing the petition and the Chief Justice’s response, President Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, established a five-member committee chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang to investigate the matter.
The committee, which included Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazaawaanuba Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Professor James Sefe Dzisah of the University of Ghana, submitted a detailed report recommending her removal.
The committee’s report cited multiple violations and ethical breaches by the Chief Justice.
“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… constitute unlawful expenditure of public funds,” the report stated.
The committee further described her actions as a “reckless dissipation of public funds” and labelled them as “avoidable” and “unjustifiable in law or policy.”
Another significant finding involved the Chief Justice’s transfer of a judicial officer, Mr. Baiden, which the committee said breached constitutional provisions.
“The Committee states without fear or favour that the Chief Justice unjustifiably breached the provisions in Article 296(a) and (b) of the Constitution… Her conduct amounted to misbehaviour.”
The Committee also accused the Chief Justice of attempting to circumvent established procedures in the nomination of Supreme Court Justices.
“ …to seek, wittingly, to outwit this known process and procedure for appointing Supreme Court Justices amounts to misbehaviour in the eyes of the Committee.”
Cumulatively, the committee found that her conduct constituted “stated misbehaviour” under multiple provisions of the Constitution.
In its concluding remarks, the committee recommended unequivocally: “ In view of the findings of the Committee… 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.”
Acting in accordance with Article 146(9), which mandates the President to comply with the Committee’s recommendation, President Mahama issued a Warrant of Removal, formally ending Justice Torkornoo’s tenure.
In a separate statement from the Presidency Communications Directorate, signed by Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP), the government underscored its commitment to constitutional governance and accountability.
“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,” the statement read.
“Under Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the Committee’s recommendation.”
The decision follows recommendations from a committee established under Article 146 of the Constitution, which concluded that grounds for removal had been met.
President Mahama, in a statement issued by the presidency, confirmed that the dismissal takes effect immediately.
Chief Justice Torkornoo, who became Ghana’s third female chief justice in June 2023, has consistently denied the allegations, labeling them as unfounded and politically motivated.
Her legal team has argued that the process leading to her removal violated constitutional provisions, particularly her right to a fair hearing.
