Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo Stands Firm, Says She Will Not Resign Amid Impeachment Proceedings

• Suspended Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo has said she will not step down from office as she faces possible impeachment
• Torkornoo has maintained that the process to remove her from office has breached the constitution
• President John Mahama received five petitions for the removal of Torkonoo, accusing her of misconduct and abuse of power

Suspended Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo has said she will not resign amid her legal travails and possible impeachment.

She maintains that every step taken to remove her from office has breached the Constitution of the Republic.

Torkornoo, in an address to the press on June 25, said her challenge to the impeachment proceeding was not an attempt to merely hold onto her position.

“The solution cannot be to resign or voluntarily retire out of frustration, pressure or fear.”

"If I resign under these circumstances, I would be saying that this flawed, unknown and opaque process is acceptable. It is not."

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President John Mahama received five petitions for the removal of Torkonoo. The committee started probing Torkonoo based on the first three petitions, which have accused the chief justice of misconduct and abuse of power.

Torkornoo, on May 21, unsuccessfully sued the committee set up by Mahama to investigate petitions seeking her removal from office.

According to court documents, the Chief Justice sought an order specifically barring Justices Gabriel Scott Pwamang and Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, as well as other committee members, including Daniel Yao Domelevo, Major Flora Bazuwaaruah Dalugo, and Professor James Sefah Dziasah, from participating in the investigation.

During her address, Torkornoo reiterated concerns she had with the choice of Osu Castle for the hearings, which is a security zone.

She also noted that this was at odds with previous similar inquiries conducted at the Judicial Service’s Court Complex.

The suspended Chief Justice further raised concerns about the committee’s failure to provide the legal basis or criteria for establishing a substantial case against her.

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Expert's view on Torkornoo's legal struggles

Legal analyst and head of chambers at Clinton Consultancy, Amanda Clinton, noted to YEN.com.gh that the Chief Justice, in speaking out, may have been seeking to protect her legacy and expose flaws in the process that led to her suspension.

However, Clinton added that the position she holds demands more than personal exoneration.

"...it demands the preservation of public trust in the judiciary. A Chief Justice’s greatest contribution, beyond rulings and reform, is safeguarding the moral and institutional authority of the bench. Prolonged public confrontation risks undoing that authority and deepening public cynicism about impartial justice in Ghana."

When was Torkornoo suspended?

Mahama suspended Torkonoo in April after the allegations against her were found to have substance.

The suspension marked a first in Ghana's history, and a committee has been established to investigate the claims against the Chief Justice.

Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana governs the removal of a chief justice.

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The suspension prompted protest from the opposition, who organised a demonstration march.

Copies of the petitions against Torkornoo were not initially made available to her, prompting concerns about due process.

These concerns over fairness were unsuccessfully tested in a lawsuit at the Supreme Court after action by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah.

The Supreme Court also dismissed an injunction application from the Centre for Citizenship, Constitutional and Electoral Systems (CenCES) seeking to halt the impeachment process.

Torkornoo claims threats of harm

YEN.com.gh reported that Torkornoo said she has received several threats from unknown individuals with the view of causing her to resign.

Speaking at a press conference, Torkornoo claimed these are threats of harm against her, which were conveyed indirectly.

Source: YEN.com.gh