JUST IN: Justice Torkornoo Takes Suspension Case to ECOWAS Court
She challenges her removal process, citing human rights violations and lack of due process
- Justice Torkornoo files case at ECOWAS Court over suspension
- Alleges human rights violations and lack of due process
- Legal challenges ongoing in Ghana’s Supreme and High Courts
Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai has revealed that Ghana’s suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, has taken her fight to the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria.
She filed a fresh application on July 4 seeking justice over her suspension and the ongoing process aimed at removing her from office.
This development unfolds amid active legal battles in Ghana, where three separate petitions demand her removal. Suspended by President John Dramani Mahama under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, Justice Torkornoo has already challenged her suspension in both the Supreme Court and the High Court.
Justice Srem-Sai explained in a Facebook post on July 8 that her application to ECOWAS claims violations of her human rights due to suspension without a final determination of the removal petitions.
He highlighted that her suspension effectively sidelines her from performing her constitutional duties without due process.
Meanwhile, on July 1, the Attorney General moved to dismiss Justice Torkornoo’s judicial review application at the Human Rights Division of the High Court. The motion argues the application is legally flawed, citing misstatements and the absence of essential parties.
President Mahama has maintained that his administration is strictly following constitutional procedures. He recently stressed that the presidency has fulfilled its mandate and is awaiting the investigative committee’s report on the petitions.
The suspension of Justice Torkornoo has sparked a nationwide debate, with lawyers, civil society groups, and political factions—including the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the parliamentary Minority—expressing concern about the impact on judicial independence. Meanwhile, government officials insist due process is being respected and that the ongoing actions align with Ghana’s democratic values.
The outcome of the investigative committee’s report will be crucial in deciding whether the Chief Justice will be reinstated or permanently removed.
