President John Dramani Mahama has formally received report of the findings of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry, tasked with probing petitions seeking the removal of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo from office.
The development follows the President’s earlier determination that a prima facie case had been established in three separate petitions alleging misconduct and incompetence.
In accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, President Mahama constituted a five-member committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, to investigate the petitions.
The committee, comprising former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, has completed its work and submitted its report to the President.
The President is now expected to review the report and communicate his decision to the public in due course. The outcome of this process has significant implications for judicial independence, constitutional governance, and public trust in the justice system, drawing keen interest from the legal community, civil society, and political actors.
On April 22, 2025, President Mahama suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo from office, citing the establishment of a prima facie case based on three petitions alleging misconduct and incompetence. The suspension sparked controversy, with the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) condemning the move as unconstitutional and questioning the lack of transparency in the inquiry process.
The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) also criticised the decision, citing concerns about the impartiality of the inquiry committee and potential breaches of constitutional norms and judicial independence. Chief Justice Torkornoo has defended herself, characterizing the suspension and removal proceedings as “arbitrary,” “cruel,” and unconstitutional, and refusing to resign.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) echoed these concerns, warning that the suspension jeopardized Ghana’s democratic integrity and condemned it as unconstitutional. As the President reviews the committee’s report, the nation awaits his decision, which will have far-reaching implications for the judiciary and the country’s democratic fabric.
