Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu is unhappy with the pronouncements of the former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo on the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice.
Kpebu said Madam Sophia Akuffo did not do well at all with her comments.
“You are still our beloved Yaa Asantewaa, but as for your comment on the CJ matter, you didn’t do well. It’s human, we will always disagree with you,” Kpebu said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, September 6.
Sophia Akuffo also stated that the removal of Madam Torkornoo has significantly weakened the judiciary.
“My honest and candid view is that this has so weakened the institution of the judiciary,” she said.
“She did not get a fair trial. Even though it is not a trial, strictly speaking, it was handled as though it were a treason trial.”
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from office by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, September 1.
This was announced in a statement issued by the Minister of Government Communications:
“President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect. This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori. After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office. Under Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the committee’s recommendation.”
This followed the President’s receipt of the report from the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry, which had been set up to investigate petitions calling for Justice Torkornoo’s removal.
A prima facie case had earlier been established in three separate petitions, leading to the formation of a five-member committee to conduct the inquiry.
The committee was chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang. Other members included Mr. Daniel Yaw Domelevo, former Auditor-General; Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF); and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor at the University of Ghana.
Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, after a prima facie case was established against her. Her suspension, carried out under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, was done in consultation with the Council of State.
Presenting the committee’s report to the President, Justice Pwamang said:
“To the committee, our mandate and remit as set out under Article 146 Clauses (7) and (8) of the Constitution are clear. It is to inquire into the petitions in camera, hear the person against whom the petitions have been brought in her defence—by herself, a lawyer, or another expert of her choice—and then make a recommendation to the President.”
Your Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, the Chief of Staff, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, other Ministers of State present, Legal Counsel to the President, Lawyer Marrietta Brew and other officials of the Presidency, representatives of the Media present, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Mr President, in March this year, you received three petitions pursuant to Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude A. E. Sackey Torkornoo, and the public was made aware of this fact. The subsequent processes, as dictated by the Constitution and the decisions of our Supreme Court, were followed, culminating in the establishment of our committee under Article 146, Clause 6 of the Constitution. The nation was further duly informed, and when we commenced our work on 15th May, 2025, the Minister of State for Government Communications was briefed and he notified the public about it.
There has been considerable interest in our work shown through comments and opinions by Ghanaians and international observers as well. However, the committee restrained itself all along from reacting even when blatant false statements made about members of the committee and our work. To the committee, our mandate and remit as set out under Article 146 Clauses (7) and (8) of the Constitution is clear and it is to inquire into the petitions in camera, hear the person against whom the petitions have been brought in her defence by herself or by a lawyer or other expert of her choice and then to make a recommendation to the President.
As I have said supra, three petitions were referred to us and though all three petitions seek for the same relief, each petition is distinct and would succeed or fail on its individual strengths and weaknesses.
