An old footage of the late former John Evans Atta Mills has resurfaced following President John Mahama’s recent removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo.
In the viral video, the late Atta Mills, during his tenure as President of Ghana in 2011, responded amusingly to a media man who asked him about alleged plans to remove the Chief Justice.
The then Chief Justice of Ghana, Georgina Theodora Wood, was appointed by former President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2007 and was still serving in 2011.
In the resurfaced old video, the journalist asked President Mills if he intended to dismiss Justice Wood.
The journalist quizzed, “There is a rumour… Do you have any such intention to work for the removal of the Chief Justice?”.
However, President Mills responded with wit, saying, “Thank you. Uh, please, stay where you are. Look at my face very carefully. Listen to my voice. Do I look and sound like a cat hunter?”.
President Mills’ amusing response drew laughter from the audience gathered at the event.
The video has resurfaced following President John Mahama’s sacking of the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect after he received a first report from the five-member committee he constituted to investigate three petitions brought against the Chief Justice.
Hours after President Mahama received the committee reports, Chief Justice Torkornoo was sacked with immediate effect.
A statement from the presidency stated, “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,” the statement concluded.
A leaked document on social media concluded that Justice Torkornoo had engaged in conduct amounting to “stated misbehaviour” under Article 146(1).
The Key finding read, “Unlawful expenditure of public funds: The committee held that the Chief Justice caused the Judicial Service to pay travel expenses for her husband and daughter during private holiday trips in 2023, including per diem allowances. This, the report stated, was an “avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds.”
Abuse of discretionary power: The committee found that her handling of the transfer of one Mr. Baiden breached Article 296(a) and (b) of the Constitution, describing the act as misbehaviour.
Interference in judicial appointments: The report also noted that she sought to bypass the established process for nominating Justices of the Supreme Court, contrary to precedent set in the Ghana Bar Association case. The committee concluded this amounted to misbehaviour”.
The committee subsequently recommended her removal in accordance with Article 146(7). President Mahama, bound by Article 146(9), which makes the President’s action mandatory once such a recommendation is made, formally removed Justice Torkornoo by Warrant of Removal under the Presidential Seal.
Meanwhile, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior Supreme Court judge, was appointed by President Mahama to act as Chief Justice during the investigation process.
President Mahama is now expected to name former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo’s successor in the coming days.
Also, former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo and a member of the Council of State have condemned the proceedings that led to President John Dramani Mahama removing the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
According to Sophia Akuffo, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo was not given a fair hearing.
Sophia Akuffo described the proceedings as a “rigmarole” that set a dangerous precedent for Ghana’s judiciary.
She expressed her dismay at how the matter was handled.
In an interview with TV3 today, September 2, Sophia Akuffo stated, “She did not get a fair trial,” Akuffo said. “Even though it is not a trial strictly speaking, it was handled as though it were a treason trial”.
“They lack the gravity that will lead to a grave outcome such as the removal of the head of an institution of justice”.
The former Chief Justice’s remarks echo the same feelings Chief Justice Torkonoo herself had earlier labelled as cruel and unconstitutional.
Watch the video below:
President Mills in 2011 was asked if he had any intentions to remove the Chief Justice and he asked if he looks and sounds like a “Cat hunter”. President Mills’ respect for our democracy was top notch! Asomdwehene 🤲🏼
— JEFFERY ADU-YEBOAH (@thejaylit_) September 2, 2025
“ It takes more than legal rules to keep a democracy. The kind… pic.twitter.com/23WvExJXMu