Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has escalated her legal challenge by filing a fresh case at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria.
She argues that her recent suspension by President John Dramani Mahama effectively removes her from office without due process, violating her constitutional rights.
The application, filed on July 4, comes amid ongoing legal battles in Ghana’s Supreme Court and High Court, where she’s also contesting the legitimacy of the proceedings to remove her from office.
According to Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, Justice Torkornoo believes her suspension undermines her role and responsibilities as Chief Justice, especially in the absence of a definitive ruling on the petitions filed against her.
Meanwhile, on July 1, the Attorney General’s Office, through State Attorney Reginald Nii Odoi, filed a motion to dismiss her judicial review application at the High Court, citing procedural flaws and the omission of key parties.
President Mahama, addressing the controversy, reiterated that his administration is acting strictly within constitutional bounds.
He emphasized that after receiving input from the Council of State, the presidency referred the matter to a five-member investigative committee, which is now handling the case.
The issue has ignited a national conversation about judicial independence, with reactions pouring in from legal experts, civil society, and political actors, including the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Minority in Parliament.
The fate of Justice Torkornoo now rests on the outcome of the ongoing investigations and the ECOWAS Court’s ruling, a decision that could influence the balance of power and judicial accountability in Ghana.
Justice Srem Sai revealed this in a Facebook post today, July 8, 2025.
