Suspended Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Torkornoo, has filed a petition with the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, seeking $10 million in compensation from the Government of Ghana. In her application, she alleges that her suspension has caused severe moral and reputational harm and violated her right to a fair hearing as protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, by President John Dramani Mahama, following consultations with the Council of State. The Council determined that there was a prima facie case warranting further investigation. Subsequently, a five-member panel chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang was constituted to examine the matter.
In response, Justice Torkornoo and her legal team have launched more than five legal challenges, primarily at the Supreme Court, aimed at halting the proceedings of the investigative panel. She argued that the process infringed on her rights, citing intrusive security checks and the denial of access to her electronic devices prior to the hearings. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed her application to suspend the inquiry.
Following this setback, she took the matter to the High Court, which is yet to issue a ruling.
Simultaneously, her legal team has taken the case to the regional level, filing a petition with the ECOWAS Court. They are requesting the Court to:
- Declare that her suspension constitutes a violation of her fundamental human rights;
- Find that the panel investigating her lacks the required independence;
- Order the Government of Ghana to revoke the suspension and reinstate her as Chief Justice;
- Award her $10 million in compensation for the moral and reputational damage sustained.
Justice Torkornoo’s legal challenge is now unfolding both within Ghana’s judiciary and the ECOWAS judicial framework, drawing significant attention across the region.
Source: TheGhanaReport.com
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