Former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has filed a legal challenge against her removal by President John Dramani Mahama from both the office of Chief Justice and her role as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
She argues that while the President has authority to remove the Chief Justice from office, the same warrant cannot be used to strip her of her status as a Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature.
In her application, Justice Torkornoo is asking the High Court to declare the President’s warrant of removal, dated September 1, 2025, as null, void, and unconstitutional.
Her reliefs include:
- A declaration that the President lacks the power to remove a Justice of the Superior Court without following the procedure outlined under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
- A declaration that only a body properly constituted under Article 146(4) has jurisdiction to hear such petitions.
- A declaration that the September 1, 2025 warrant removing her from both offices is unlawful and of no effect.
- An order of certiorari to quash the said warrant.
- Any further orders the Court may deem appropriate.
Justice Torkornoo maintains that her removal breached constitutional provisions designed to safeguard judicial independence.
