Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo with immediate effect, following the filing of three separate petitions calling for her removal.
The petitions include allegations of misconduct, such as tampering with court records and misuse of public funds, according to Reuters.Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, determined that there was sufficient initial evidence to warrant further investigation into the matter.
Based on this, the Ghanaian government set up a five-member investigative committee to probe the allegations, although specific details of the accusations have not been disclosed.
The committee is led by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang and includes former auditor-general Daniel Domelevo.
Torkornoo, 61, was appointed as Ghana’s 15th Chief Justice in June 2023, becoming the third woman to hold the prestigious post.
While she previously survived a removal request earlier this year, her current suspension marks the first time in Ghana’s history that a sitting chief justice is being formally investigated through a constitutional process.
President Mahama, who assumed office in January 2025, has promised to tackle corruption and promote accountability in the country’s governance.