Suspended Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has declared her intent to resist ongoing impeachment proceedings, describing the process as “opaque” and “bizarre,” and affirming that she will not step down under pressure.
At a press briefing held on Wednesday, June 25, Justice Torkornoo accused the committee investigating her of bias and unfair treatment, suggesting a politically motivated effort to tarnish her record and force her out of office.
“I do not seek to cling to a title or position,” she said. “But as a lawyer of 38 years, a judge for 21 years, and Chief Justice of this Republic, I consider it a duty to speak out on what I see as an assault on justice itself.”
Justice Torkornoo has been on suspension since April 22, 2025, after President John Dramani Mahama, acting in consultation with the Council of State, determined that a prima facie case had been established against her under Article 146(10) of the 1992 Constitution. A five-member committee was subsequently constituted to investigate multiple petitions of alleged misconduct. The proceedings have been held in camera, as required by law.
Describing the process as legally and constitutionally flawed, she warned that resignation would not only be interpreted as an admission of guilt but could result in the forfeiture of all her entitlements as a public servant.
“There is already a Supreme Court decision—suit number J6/02/2019—which makes clear that one cannot resign or retire while Article 146 proceedings are underway. To do so would result in judgment in default and a total loss of benefits, regardless of the truth of the claims,” she stated.
Justice Torkornoo expressed deep concern about the precedent such a process could set for other public officers, arguing that stepping aside in the face of unproven allegations only empowers those who may seek to abuse constitutional provisions for political ends.
“If a public officer walks away from proceedings initiated by the state, judgment can be entered in their absence. The result is a double injustice: false claims go unchallenged, and the officer loses everything they’ve worked for. That cannot be justice,” she said.
She also alleged that there may be behind-the-scenes efforts to pressure her into resigning, allowing her accusers to declare her silence as admission.
“It may well be that efforts are being made to frustrate me into quitting, to create the narrative that the petitions were valid and I had no defense. But that’s not the truth—and I will not hand that gift to those who seek to undermine justice.”
Ending her statement on a firm note, she said: “If I resign under these circumstances, I will be validating a flawed and unknown process. I will not do that.”
The committee continues to sit in-camera to investigate the charges. Justice Torkornoo’s refusal to resign sets the stage for what may be one of Ghana’s most consequential constitutional and legal battles involving a sitting Chief Justice.
