Ghanaian President John Mahama has suspended the country’s Supreme Court chief justice – a move that marks a first in the country’s history
An investigation has been launched and three undisclosed petitions have been filed making allegations against Gertrude Torkornoo, calling for her permanent removal.
Chief justices in Ghana enjoy security of tenure – meaning they can only be removed from office on a few grounds, which include incompetence and misbehaviour.
The content of the petitions has not been made public and she is yet to comment, while Ghana’s former attorney general has claimed her suspension is an attempt to undermine the judiciary.
“I think it is a complete charade,” Godfred Yeboah Dame told the BBC.
“It’s the biggest assault on the [judiciary] in the nation’s history, the greatest assault on the independence of the judiciary under the constitutional dispensation of this country.”
Ms Torkornoo is Ghana’s third female chief justice and was nominated in 2023 by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
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What a shame!
No be small thing