Adawudu: Commonwealth, UK Bar Council Wrong to Demand CJ’s Reinstatement

Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team, has criticised the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Bar Council of England and Wales for calling for the reinstatement of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s *Breakfast Daily* on Monday, August 18, Mr. Adawudu said the foreign legal bodies had no authority to dictate outcomes to Ghana, stressing that the country’s constitutional processes must be respected.

“I think the Bar Council in England and the Commonwealth got it wrong because every country has its constitution. They should not just come and say reinstate the Chief Justice when the committee has not even finished its work,” he argued.

Mr. Adawudu further described the move as reflecting a “colonial mentality,” adding that the organisations should have limited themselves to observing the process.

“They should have just said they are watching and following to see if due process is being followed, rather than issuing an ultimatum to a sovereign country. They should not belittle our intelligence,” he stated.

His comments follow a joint statement issued on August 14 by the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, which expressed concern over the suspension of the Chief Justice on April 22.

The two legal bodies urged President John Dramani Mahama to reinstate Justice Torkornoo, citing Ghana’s long tradition of upholding the rule of law, and demanded transparency in the ongoing proceedings. They also called for her legal team to be granted full access to the process.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Attorney-General has moved to strike out a second judicial review application filed by Justice Torkornoo, who is challenging one of the petitions for her removal on grounds of flawed procedure and questionable legal standing of the petitioners. Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai has maintained that the petition is valid and that the committee set up under Article 146 should continue its work.

**Background**

On April 22, 2025, President Mahama suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo after a prima facie case was established against her, following three separate petitions alleging misconduct and incompetence.

Per Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, the president, in consultation with the Council of State, may suspend a Justice of the Supreme Court once such a case is established and set up a committee to investigate. A five-member panel chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang was accordingly formed, with Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie appointed as acting Chief Justice.

The suspension has sparked sharp debate within Ghana’s legal and political circles. While the Ghana Bar Association, the Centre for Democratic Movement, and the opposition NPP have described the decision as unconstitutional and a threat to judicial independence, Justice Torkornoo has insisted she will not resign, describing the process as arbitrary and pledging to defend herself before the committee.