Justice Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior judge currently serving on the Supreme Court, has assumed the role of Acting Chief Justice after Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was suspended.
President John Mahama announced Justice Torkornoo’s suspension on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
The move comes after a committee was established to investigate multiple petitions calling for her removal from office over allegations of misconduct and incompetence.
The suspension, detailed in a statement from the presidency, follows consultations with the Council of State and is in line with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for the establishment of a committee to investigate allegations against a superior court judge if a prima facie case is found.
According to the statement, President Mahama determined that there were sufficient grounds to warrant a formal investigation into the conduct of the Chief Justice.
The investigative committee is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang.
Members of the committee are:
- Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang – Supreme Court Judge (Chair)
- Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu – Supreme Court Judge
- Daniel Yaw Domelevo – Former Auditor-General
- Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo – Ghana Armed Forces
- Professor James Sefah Dzisah – Associate Professor, University of Ghana
Profile of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was called to the Bar in 1981. He began his judicial career as a Circuit Court Judge in Kumasi before serving as a High Court Judge in Duayaw Nkwanta, located in the Bono Region. He later became an Appeals Court Judge and was elevated to the Supreme Court in June 2008 by former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is notably remembered for being part of the Supreme Court panel that ruled on the landmark 2012 election petition filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which sought to annul about four million votes it claimed were compromised. The petition was ultimately dismissed.
Source: Newstitbits.com