Awal Mohammed, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team, has said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will reinstate Justice Gertrude Torkonoo as Chief Justice by 2029.
The NPP communicator made these remarks reacting to discussions surrounding Justice Baffoe Bonnie’s appointment as the new Chief Justice.
According to Awal Mohammed, the circumstances surrounding Justice Torkonoo’s removal were questionable and should be revisited.
Speaking on Prime Morning’s News Flash segment, Awal Mohammed stated, “How strange it is that a country would remove its Chief Justice simply because of an allowance? This is why I believe we will have to reinstate her in 2029”.
Awal Mohammed highlighted Justice Torkonoo’s removal over allowances was unfair compared to the former Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei’s removal.
The NPP communicator added, “We did not remove Charlotte Osei because of an allowance. She was removed after a series of corruption allegations between her, Amadu Sulley, and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, which were openly traded on air”.
“How do you compare the two offices? The Chief Justice is the head of the third arm of government. Even under military rule, suspending or removing a Chief Justice has never been taken lightly because of the potential chaos it could cause,” he argued.
Also, Private Legal Practitioner James Afedo has petitioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), calling for the arrest and prosecution of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The private legal practitioner has petitioned EOCO to prosecute Gertrude Torkornoo for alleged misuse of public funds and willfully causing financial loss to the state.
It will be recalled that on September 1, 2025, President John Mahama sacked 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, President John Mahama has named His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the new Chief Justice of Ghana.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, September 23, by the Minister of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior Supreme Court judge, was appointed by President Mahama to act as Chief Justice during the investigation process of sacked CJ Torkornoo.
He is now confirmed as the substantive head of the judiciary after he was nominated by John Mahama.