The Chairman of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry Submits First Report to President Mahama on Chief Justice Petitions
In a significant development at the Presidency, the Chairman of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry has officially handed over the committee’s first report to President John Dramani Mahama. The report addresses the petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
The story began in March 2025, when President Mahama received three separate petitions under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. Each petition called for the removal of the Chief Justice, setting off a constitutional process that resulted in the formation of the committee in May 2025.
Justice Gabriel Pwamang, who chairs the committee, confirmed that the panel has now completed its work on the first petition, which was filed by Mr. Daniel Ofori. The inquiry was thorough: 13 witnesses testified on behalf of the petitioner, while Chief Justice Torkornoo presented her defence with the support of 12 witnesses, including several experts. Both sides were represented by four lawyers each, and the committee received close to 10,000 pages of documentary evidence.
Chief Justice Torkornoo herself appeared before the committee and underwent cross-examination, a key moment in the proceedings. According to Justice Pwamang, the panel undertook a “critical and dispassionate” review of all the evidence before submitting its findings and recommendations to the President in a sealed report.
Meanwhile, the second and third petitions have been put on hold, following requests from both Mr. Ofori and the Chief Justice. The committee has indicated that it will provide its findings on those petitions in due course, leaving the nation awaiting further developments in this landmark constitutional process.
