Legal Practitioner Urges Speedy Resolution in Chief Justice Probe

Private legal practitioner, Saeed Salahudeen, has called for swift action from the five-member committee set up by President John Dramani Mahama to investigate petitions filed against Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.

Speaking on The Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, May 3, Mr. Salahudeen emphasized that the matter should not be unnecessarily delayed. He pointed out that although the Chief Justice is currently on suspension, she is still presumed innocent under the law.

“We must ensure that the proceedings are handled in an expeditious manner,” he stated, urging the committee to act without unnecessary delay.

The committee, constituted by President Mahama under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, was tasked with investigating three separate petitions seeking the removal of the Chief Justice. The President, having determined that a prima facie case had been established, proceeded to suspend Justice Torkornoo pending the committee’s findings, as required by Article 146(10).

The members of the committee are:

1. Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang – Supreme Court Judge (Chairman)

2. Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu – Supreme Court Judge (Member)

3. Daniel Yaw Domelevo – Former Auditor-General (Member)

4. Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo – Ghana Armed Forces (Member)

5. Professor James Sefah Dzisah – University of Ghana Associate Professor (Member)

The Presidency confirmed the Chief Justice’s suspension in a statement issued on Tuesday, April 22, highlighting that the decision was in line with constitutional procedures and based on the advice of the Council of State.

Prior to this, on March 25, 2025, the Communications Directorate at the Presidency announced that three separate petitions had been received from various individuals, calling for the removal of Justice Torkornoo. These petitions were forwarded to the Council of State for the necessary consultations under Article 146 of the Constitution.

Justice Torkornoo has since responded to the allegations raised in the petitions.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear applications seeking an injunction against the removal process on May 6. At the last hearing on April 16, proceedings were postponed due to the absence of Justice Samuel Asiedu, resulting in a four-member panel chaired by Justice Osei Bonsu.

At the previous court session, former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, representing the MP for Old Tafo in one of the suits, argued that the President should halt the consultation process while the injunction is pending. He contended that ongoing legal proceedings should pause any administrative action.

However, Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine refuted this claim, insisting that the President is executing a constitutional mandate which cannot be obstructed by court processes.

“This is a clear constitutional duty. The law does not allow you to restrain the performance of a public or constitutional obligation,” Dr. Ayine said.

The nation now awaits both the outcome of the Supreme Court proceedings and the findings of the investigative committee.