Citizen Petitions EOCO to Arrest Former Chief Justice Torkornoo for Alleged Financial Mismanagement

A private legal practitioner, James Kofi Afedo, has formally petitioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest and prosecute the immediate past Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey-Torkornoo, over allegations of financial impropriety.

In the petition, dated September 24, Mr. Afedo accused the removed Chief Justice of willfully causing financial loss to the state and misapplying public funds entrusted to her as head of the Judicial Service.

“I write as a concerned citizen of Ghana to humbly petition your high and respected office for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the former Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey-Torkornoo, for willfully causing financial loss to the state and willfully or negligently misapplying public funds entrusted to her,” the petition stated.

Mr. Afedo alleged that in 2023, Justice Torkornoo authorized the use of Judicial Service funds to cover travel expenses and per diem allowances for her husband during a private trip to Tanzania. He further claimed similar benefits were extended to her daughter during a holiday trip to the United States.

The petitioner argued that such actions contravened provisions of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), specifically Section 96(1)(c) and (d), which prohibit the misuse of public funds.

The petition comes in the wake of heightened controversy surrounding Justice Torkornoo’s recent removal from office, which has already sparked legal challenges and drawn strong criticism from sections of the legal fraternity.

EOCO is yet to publicly respond to the petition.