Ghana - April 2025

On 22 April, President John Mahama suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following the submission of undisclosed petitions alleging misconduct. Torkornoo was initially denied access to the petitions — a step later rectified — raising concerns about due process. Acting on advice from the Council of State, Mahama determined that a prima facie case had been established and initiated a formal inquiry. The suspension of a sitting chief justice is the first of its kind under Ghana’s 1992 constitution. The opposition condemned the move as a ‘judicial coup’ and accused Mahama of attempting to reshape the judiciary in his party’s favour. A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the allegations. Torkornoo is Ghana's third female chief justice and was appointed in 2023 by former president Nana Akufo-Addo. The Ghana Bar Association described the move as ‘unconstitutional’ and has called for transparency and adherence to due process, warning that the episode could erode public trust in the judiciary.

Update: On 1 September, President John Mahama dismissed Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following a president-appointed committee’s finding of ‘stated misbehaviour,’ including unlawful expenditure on private travel and interference in appointments. Torkornoo, who denies wrongdoing, is challenging her dismissal in domestic and regional courts, including taking her case to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in July 2025.

Sources: Ghana Bar Association, Graphic Online, The Africa Report, Barron’s, British Broadcasting Corporation, Africa Confidential