Chief Justice submits response to Mahama over removal petitions

Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has officially submitted her preliminary response to President John Dramani Mahama, meeting the 10-day deadline set for her to address three petitions seeking her removal from office.

This latest development, which occurred on Monday, April 7, 2025, marks a pivotal point in the unfolding constitutional process.

The petitions, received by the President last month, have sparked widespread legal and political debate, particularly over the appropriate application of Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which governs the removal of justices of the Superior Courts.

Last week, Justice Torkornoo requested copies of the petitions and appealed for at least seven days to respond, emphasizing the importance of due process. Her response has now been forwarded to the Council of State, which must be consulted by the President before any further action can be taken.

According to Article 146(6), if the petition is against the Chief Justice, the President, in consultation with the Council of State, must appoint a five-member committee—comprising two Supreme Court Justices and three non-political, non-legal members—to investigate the claims.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to hear a related legal challenge on April 9. The suit, filed by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah, questions whether the President acted lawfully by initiating the removal process without formally notifying the Chief Justice beforehand.

As constitutional procedures continue to unfold, legal observers are watching closely to see whether the President will move forward with forming a committee based on the Chief Justice’s preliminary response.

This process could ultimately determine whether Justice Torkornoo remains in office or becomes the first Chief Justice in Ghana’s Fourth Republic to be removed through a formal petition.