Abraham Amaliba, a member of the NDC’s legal team, has disclosed that former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo initially reached out to President John Dramani Mahama through two prominent intermediaries, seeking to retire with her full benefits after her removal proceedings began.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints on September 6, Mr. Amaliba said discussions on this arrangement were underway until Justice Torkornoo suddenly chose to challenge her removal in court. “She worked through some two eminent persons… but when the talks were ongoing, she went to court to fight her removal,” he revealed.
The revelation came during a panel discussion where another member, Ansa-Asare, argued that on humanitarian grounds, Justice Torkornoo should have been allowed to retire with her entitlements after serving over 21 years. Amaliba, however, maintained that her decision to litigate nullified that possibility.
Earlier, legal practitioner Martin Kpebu had also noted that because the Chief Justice was removed on grounds of stated misbehaviour, she would lose all benefits attached to her office. He stressed that the committee’s report—submitted to the President—made clear her liability for breaching certain rules.
Justice Torkornoo was officially dismissed on September 1, 2025, after President Mahama accepted the recommendation of a five-member Article 146 committee chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang. The committee, set up following three separate petitions, found her guilty of misconduct and advised her removal in line with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution.
