President John Mahama’s Decision To Suspend Me Defies Constitution – Says Ghana’s Suspended Chief Justice

Gertrude Torkornoo, the suspended Chief Justice of Ghana says the decision by President John Mahama to suspend sharply defies the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, noting she only obeyed his decision out of respect she has for him.

In an address to the media on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, she described the move as part of a “bizarre” and “unconstitutional” process under Article 146, which she believes is being manipulated to remove her from office without due cause.

“I chose to respect His Excellency the President’s warrant of suspension, even though it was clear to me that it was not supported by the prima facie determination required by the Constitution and decisions of the Supreme Court,” she stated.
Justice Torkornoo said the Constitution provides clear steps before a judge can be suspended, and that standard was completely ignored. She warned that allowing such violations to stand would threaten the independence of every judge and constitutional officeholder in the country.

“Behind me is every judge in the country. Behind me is every commissioner or head of an independent constitutional body. If this model of removal can be tried on the Chief Justice, it can be repeated with everyone,” she said.
She also stated that her resistance is not personal, but rooted in the duty she carries as head of the judiciary.
I cannot share the burden of those involved in designing and implementing this enterprise… by keeping quiet about the violations of law, rules and due process,” she said. “Neither can I make their burden lighter by resigning or retiring, instead of proving that not even one of these wild claims in a collection of petitions is remotely true.”
Justice Torkornoo expressed confidence in her integrity, stating that no one could credibly accuse her of corruption in her over two-decade career on the bench.

“This is the personal treasure of integrity that I live with,” she said.
She described the situation as a carefully staged attempt to remove her from office without legal grounds. And while she has submitted to the process, she firmly rejected its legitimacy.

“I do not choose to hide from the nation that perversion of law, rules, and due process are driving the proceedings. I choose to trust that such darkness will not totally engulf this nation,” she concluded.
The Chief Justice ended her statement with a strong appeal to national conscience saying, silence in this moment could come at a steep cost to Ghana’s democracy.

Source:Africa Publicity