Torkornoo, 49 Other Judges Received Rent ‘Allawa’ In Error & Refunded The Payment

Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo

Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo and 49 other judges received incorrect housing payments. This rent allowance was given despite many living in official government properties. When the error was discovered, all affected judges refunded the payments.

These payments occurred between 2020 and 2022 under former Chief Justice Anin Yeboah (Rtd). Judicial Service records show that the mistake was on their part. Once notified, every judge returned the funds without exception.

The judges also refunded the tax components of these payments. The Judicial Service then repaid these tax amounts to the judges. Chief Justice Torkornoo received GHC152,768.40, including taxes, and refunded it fully.

However, she got back GHC34,079.10 from the service. This means she ultimately returned GHC118,689.30 to the Judicial Service.

Other judges involved include those nominated for the Supreme Court by President John Dramani Mahama. One judge received GHC90,548.46 but refunded GHC69,330.38 after repayment of GHC21,218.08.

Justice P. Bright Mensah and Justice Senyo Dzamefe are also among those nominated for elevation to the Supreme Court. They too received similar payments and later refunded them.

A source from the judicial service criticized attacks on Chief Justice Torkornoo as unfair and misleading. They stated that targeting her while ignoring others is disingenuous.

The source emphasized that if one judge erred, all 49 did as well. Calls for her removal should apply equally to all who received these payments.

Source: Asaase Radio