Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader and Ranking Member, has said the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was cloaked in unacceptably opaque circumstances.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the process of the removal of Justice Torkornoo was a travesty of justice.
Afenyo-Markin highlighted that Justice Torkornoo’s removal breached constitutional procedures.
Speaking at the vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, Afenyo-Markin, giving his preliminary comment, stated, “It is our [minority] contention that the removal of Torkornoo didn’t adhere to any constitutional procedure.
Never should any Ghanaian suffer such a fate. The removal of Torkornoo was cloaked in unacceptably opaque circumstances”.
Meanwhile, President John Mahama 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 was appointed to the Supreme Court in June 2008 by then-President John Agyekum Kufuor and is among the most senior justices of the apex court.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is now expected to be vetted as Chief Justice by parliament before his swearing-in as Ghana’s next Chief Justice.
His appointment follows. President John Mahama sacking 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.
Furthermore, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is expected to be vetted today, Monday, November 10, 2025, by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Also, the Minority Caucus in Parliament has formally written to President John Dramani Mahama, demanding clarity on a petition seeking the removal of acting Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.
In a statement issued by the minority, they invoke their constitutional right to information, to demand clarity on a petition.
The Minority Caucus wants a copy of any investigative report or decision on the matter, especially as Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is currently nominated for the position of Chief Justice and awaiting parliamentary vetting.
They argue that transparency and accountability must be upheld during this critical process.
It will be recalled that a private citizen, identified as Gbande Nabin Yussif has has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to sack the yet to be sworn in Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
In a petition signed by Gbande Nabin Yussif on October 6, 2025, the private citizen is pleading with President Mahama to sack the acting chief justice on the grounds of misbehaviour.
He references comments made by Paul Baffoe-Bonnie following a lawsuit filed by Israel Tetteh, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamokpor, and a group calling itself the Ghana Law Society.