Accra, 15 August 2025 — The Bar Council of England and Wales, joined by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), has urged President John Dramani Mahama to immediately reinstate Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, whose suspension on 22 April 2025 has drawn widespread concern over the erosion of judicial independence.
In a strongly worded joint statement, the legal bodies expressed deep alarm at the suspension, which they see as a potential violation of Ghana’s constitution and fundamental rule-of-law principles. They called for complete transparency in the disciplinary process, including timely procedural guidelines and full access for Chief Justice Torkornoo’s legal team.
The suspension comes amid legal challenges by the Chief Justice herself. She has taken her case to the ECOWAS Court of Justice, following earlier domestic petitions—raising serious questions about fairness, due process, and constitutional safeguards.
The statement referenced constitutional protections under Article 146, which allows for the removal of a superior court judge only for “stated misbehaviour, incompetence, or inability to perform due to infirmity.” It also cited the Commonwealth Charter and Latimer House Principles urging due process, impartiality, and fair representation in judicial disciplinary proceedings.
The Ghana Bar Association and the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association have also echoed these concerns, warning that any encroachment on judicial autonomy risks undermining public confidence in Ghana’s democracy.