Ghana’s suspended Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has vowed her unwavering determination to resist mounting pressure to resign amid an impeachment process she describes as fundamentally flawed and unjust.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, June 25, Justice Torkornoo sharply criticized the proceedings under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, labeling them as opaque, biased, and unfair. She stressed that resignation at this juncture would wrongly validate the “wild and unfounded” allegations being leveled against her.
“I’m not clinging to a title,” she stated firmly, “but as someone who has dedicated 38 years to the law and 21 years on the bench—including my tenure as Chief Justice—it’s my duty to stand up for justice, especially when I’ve become a victim of its abuse.”
Justice Torkornoo asserted that stepping down would not only be inappropriate, but legally invalid. Citing a Supreme Court precedent (Suit No. J6/02/2019), she reminded the public that no judge or public official facing Article 146 proceedings can simply resign or retire mid-process.
“Resigning now would not only result in a judgment rendered in my absence,” she warned, “but also strip me of all entitlements—simply for choosing not to defend myself against politically motivated falsehoods.”
She suggested that behind-the-scenes efforts are likely underway to pressure her into stepping down, thereby allowing her opponents to portray her resignation as an admission of guilt.
“There’s a clear strategy to frustrate me into quitting,” she said. “But I won’t be used to legitimize a flawed and unjust process. I refuse to be a cautionary tale for others in public office.”
Justice Torkornoo has been on suspension since April 22, 2025, after President John Dramani Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, found a prima facie case for impeachment. The move followed several petitions alleging misconduct, now under review by a five-member committee in a closed-door process as mandated by the Constitution.
Despite multiple legal attempts to halt the process—including four suits and requests for injunctions—Justice Torkornoo’s efforts have been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
In her closing remarks, she reaffirmed her resolve: “To walk away now is to endorse a system I know to be broken. I will not validate injustice with my silence.”
