On March 17, 2025, a private Ghanaian citizen, Daniel Ofori set in motion an action which cumulated in the unprecedented removal of a serving Ghanaian Chief Justice from Office.
Premised on the provisions of Article 146 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, the petition addressed to President John Dramani Mahama demanded the removal of Justice Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, the 15th and third female Chief Justice of the Republic Ghana on grounds of stated misbehaviour.
“I, the undersigned, respectfully petition Your Excellency for the removal of the Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Her Ladyship Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo CJ on grounds of “stated misbehaviour” and “incompetence” under Article 146 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana,” the petitioner said.
As part of his petition, Daniel Ofori listed 25 specific issues against the Chief Justice based on which he demanded her removal.
“I state below twenty-one (21) specific allegations of misbehaviour of the Honourable Chief Justice and four (4) allegations of incompetence, all of which relate to the Honourable Chief Justice’s discharge of her administrative roles and functions as head of the Judiciary, responsible for its supervision and administration,” he wrote.
Among the allegations were claims of financial misconduct, improper case transfer, administrative malpractices as well as tampering with court records.
In addition to Daniel Ofori’s petition, two additional petitions against Chief Justice, two other petitions formed the basis of her suspension by President John Dramani Mahama on April 22, 2025.
The suspension was after a consultation of the Council of State had established a prima facie against Chief Torkornoo on the back of the three petitions.
President Maham subsequently constituted a five-member committee chaired by Supreme Court Justice, Gabriel Scott Pwamang to investigate the petitions.
On Monday, September 1, 2025, the committee presented its report including recommendations on Daniel Ofori’s petition to the president.
The committee, noting that the Chief Justice and the second petitioners had requested adjournment on the second petition pledged to later report on the second petition.
However, the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu in a statement later on Monday afternoon, announced that the president had removed the Chief Justice from Office upon the findings and recommendations of the committee on Daniel Ofori’s petition.
Read the full petition by Daniel Ofori below:
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