The embattled Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, has escalated her fight against removal proceedings, taking the Republic of Ghana to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria.
The unprecedented move, confirmed by Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, injects a significant international dimension into a saga that has captivated the West African nation.
Dr. Srem-Sai revealed the suit was formally filed on July 4, 2025, just over two months after Justice Torkornoo’s suspension from office on April 22, 2025.
According to the Deputy Attorney-General, the ECOWAS filing mirrors allegations already raised in ongoing domestic battles before Ghana’s Supreme Court and High Court.
Justice Torkornoo vehemently argues that the actions taken against her, particularly her suspension without a final judicial ruling, constitute a blatant violation of her fundamental human rights, protected under both Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and international human rights conventions.
Sources close to the Chief Justice’s legal team indicate she asserts the process surrounding her suspension and the ongoing investigation has been riddled with serious procedural breaches.
These include what she describes as “degrading and inhumane treatment” during the inquiry initiated by a five-member committee chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang.
Justice Torkornoo has consistently raised concerns about her treatment since the commencement of the investigation into three separate petitions filed against her.
Her suspension came after a prima facie case was established by the President of the Republic in consultation with the Council of State, as per Article 146(6) of the Constitution. While the specific details of the petitions remain under wraps, they are widely believed to involve allegations of misconduct and abuse of office.
Despite the President’s constitutional prerogative to appoint an investigative committee, the Chief Justice’s camp maintains that the entire process has lacked fairness, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
As the nation holds its breath, political and legal observers are keenly watching whether Ghana’s internal institutions will resolve this high-stakes standoff, or if the regional court will be forced to step in, potentially setting a precedent for judicial accountability across West Africa.