Torkornoo Has Right to Challenge Removal in Court – Vanderpuye

The National Coordinator for the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has said former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo is within her rights to challenge her removal from the Supreme Court.

Justice Torkornoo has filed an application for judicial review at the High Court, contesting the legality of her dismissal by President John Dramani Mahama. She is seeking declarations that the President exceeded the constitutional powers granted under the 1992 Constitution when he issued a removal warrant on September 1, 2025, which stripped her of her roles as Chief Justice and as a Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, September 18, 2025, Mr. Vanderpuye maintained that although the situation is regrettable, President Mahama’s decision followed due constitutional process.

“Certain things will happen to give any dynamic society the opportunity to reform, and that will build a much stronger, enduring environment for the future generation. It may be sad that it is she who is going through this, but that is a sacrifice you have to pay by being a servant of the law,” he said.

Mr. Vanderpuye further stressed that the executive had not erred in the matter.

“With all the work she has done, if this is the way she is going to contribute to reform within our judicial system, then it is painful, but we have to accept it. The executive has not done anything wrong as far as this whole process is concerned,” he added.

He noted that the development should serve as an opportunity to strengthen judicial safeguards.

“It is within her right to go for a review. But this is also the moment for us to push for laws and systems that make it difficult for anyone to bring up such a petition to remove a Supreme Court judge,” he concluded.

President Mahama, in a statement dated September 1, 2025, announced Justice Torkornoo’s removal under Article 146(9) of the Constitution. The decision followed a recommendation by a committee established under Article 146(6) to investigate a petition filed by a citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori.