The fallout from the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has deepened, with former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, launching a sharp rebuke at former Chief Justice and Council of State member, Sophia Akuffo.
Ansa-Asare accused Akuffo of breaching the sacred trust of her office, following her outspoken criticism of the process that led to Justice Torkornoo’s dismissal.
In a strongly worded statement, Ansa-Asare insisted that members of the Council of State take an oath that binds them to uphold the integrity of the office, and described Akuffo’s remarks as a violation of that trust. “Any deviation from its obligations undermines the integrity of the office,” he said, calling Akuffo’s actions a “breach of the trust imposed in her as a Council of State member.”
His comments came in response to Akuffo’s public condemnation of President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to remove Chief Justice Torkornoo. Appearing on TV3, Akuffo described the process as unjust and deeply troubling for Ghana’s judiciary. “I pray to God that no Chief Justice, no Judge should go through this rigmarole again,” she stated, adding that the inquiry into Torkornoo’s conduct resembled a political witch-hunt and denied her fair treatment. “Even though it is not a trial strictly speaking, it was handled as though it were a treason trial,” Akuffo lamented.
The controversy stems from President Mahama’s suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo on April 22, 2025, following a prima facie case established by three confidential petitions. Acting under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and after consulting the Council of State, the president appointed a five-member panel to investigate, chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang.
The legal community has been roiled by the decision. The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) condemned the process as unconstitutional and a threat to judicial independence. They questioned the transparency and impartiality of the inquiry, while Chief Justice Torkornoo herself has called the proceedings arbitrary and refused to resign, insisting on her right to defend herself.
The political opposition, including the NPP, echoed these concerns, warning that the removal jeopardizes Ghana’s democratic foundations. Despite the criticism, President Mahama acted on the inquiry’s recommendation, and Torkornoo was officially removed on September 1 for stated misbehaviour.
As debate rages on, Ansa-Asare’s censure of Sophia Akuffo adds another layer to a saga that has shaken faith in Ghana’s constitutional processes and the independence of its judiciary.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
