Solomon Owusu, a senior Communicator for the Movement for Change, has quizzed the former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo on what is so trivial about Getrude Torkornoo travelling with her family and giving them per diem.
According to Solomon Owusu, it is unacceptable for someone of Sophia Akuffo’s stature to downplay such matters.
Speaking in an interview on GHOne TV, Solomon Owusu stated, “She didn’t have basis for what she said. You, on the matter of procurement alone, she single-handedly determined the Prime Minister’s case using the same Article 146.
And in 2017, somewhere in July, she, through the Judicial Secretary, warned every Ghanaian that she wouldn’t dare comment about what the committee was doing about Charlotte Osei’s case—we would all be in prison.
This former Chief Justice told us that.”
He added, “What is so trivial about travelling with your husband and daughter when they are not supposed to be part of it, and giving them per diem?
“You and I are tax revenue. Someone who is supposed to know does this, and you say, oh, it’s trivial. What are you talking about?”
Solomon Owusu further called on state authorities to investigate Akuffo’s tenure as Chief Justice, suggesting that she could have done worse while she was in office in she finds the removal of the Chief Justice as trivial.
“I will call on the State Security Agencies to begin to go and investigate her time as the Chief Justice. Because it means she did worse if she finds all these things are trivialities. It’s a serious crime. If you are the Chief Justice, someone that can imprison someone, your bar is so high”, he added.
His comment comes following Sophia Akuffo’s remarks in an interview, condemning President John Mahama’s removal of the former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
According to Sophia Akuffo, the allegation that led to the removal of the Chief Justice is not strong enough to justify her dismissal.
In an interview with TV3, September 2, Sophia Akuffo stated, “The [allegations] lack the gravity that will lead to a grave outcome such as the removal of the head of an institution of justice.”
Sophia Akuffo further urged Gertrude Torkornoo to take heart, as God may have bigger, better, and greater things planned for her.
Madam Sophia Akuffo added, “She should take heart. That God sees, and sometimes when you go through certain things which you think have brought you to the end or to your knees or something like that, that could be far from the truth”.
“There could be bigger, better and greater needs that the Lord has in store. That is what I will tell her, and that is what I will send to her as a text message.”
“When you are a believer, things happen today, yes, they have happened, so look to God and move on, and you will allow God to manage the rest”, she added.
Sophia Akuffo further 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.
The former Chief Justice added, “She did not get a fair trial. 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.
Background
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.
Watch the video below:
If former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo wants me to see her as an honest person, she must return the land she bought for ₵7,000 at Cantonments… – Solomon Owusu (Spokesperson, Movement for Change)#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork#GHOneTV #NewsAlert#GHToday pic.twitter.com/56b7oBI1cx
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) September 4, 2025