'Treated worse than a traitor' – Suspended CJ alleges psychological torture, mockery of justice in impeachment battle

Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo filed a supplementary affidavit at the Supreme Court on May 26.

She described her treatment during the impeachment inquiry as harsh and unjust. She called it "a mockery of justice" and an attack on judicial independence. Torkornoo stated that her treatment is worse than what treason suspects face.

In her affidavit, she claimed the process violates her constitutional rights. She said it disregards her dignity and subjects her to inhumane treatment.

The affidavit supports her motion for an injunction to stop the proceedings. It details alarming events since she took legal action on May 21.

Torkornoo noted that she informed the committee about her Supreme Court suit. Despite this, they continued with their inquiry the next day.

She expressed frustration over not knowing the specific allegations against her. "I cannot even begin to prepare a defense," she lamented.

Justice Torkornoo described a series of violations against her rights. On May 15, her lawyer attended a committee meeting without her but was ignored.

"The committee shockingly refused to recognize my counsel," she stated. They set new hearing dates without involving him.

More troubling is the committee's decision to allow petitioners to call third-party witnesses instead of testifying themselves. This undermines accountability and violates procedural rules, according to Torkornoo.

"This is completely offensive to known rules of procedure," she insisted.

Her protest also highlights personal humiliations during the hearings. She faced body searches and was denied access to phones and laptops while petitioners' counsel had full access.

Additionally, she mentioned that her husband and children were barred from entering the hearing room.

Torkornoo criticized the venue of the hearings at Osu Castle as intimidating.

"All Article 146 proceedings have been held in judicial facilities," she wrote. The choice of a high-security location for hers is perplexing.

The Chief Justice warned that this situation represents more than just a personal attack; it's an institutional crisis.

"The persistent violations show that these proceedings are a mockery of justice," she declared, urging immediate intervention from the Supreme Court.

She argued that this case affects not only her position but also judges' constitutional independence and security of tenure in superior courts.