The Chief Justice of Ghana, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has initiated legal action against the Republic of Ghana at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria, challenging what she describes as a breach of her constitutional rights.
The case, which was filed on July 4, 2025, centers on Justice Torkornoo’s ongoing suspension and its implications on her role as the head of the judiciary.
According to the Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem Sai, the Chief Justice is raising allegations of human rights violations—claims that mirror those currently under review by both Ghana’s Supreme Court and High Court in relation to proceedings aimed at her removal from office.
Dr. Srem Sai made the disclosure in a Facebook post on July 8, stating:
“I can confirm that the Chief Justice – Her Ladyship, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo – has filed another court case – this time, at the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria, against the Republic.”
He noted that the Chief Justice’s legal challenge at the regional court reiterates her position that the suspension amounts to a de facto removal from office, despite the absence of a final judicial determination.
“Essentially, Her Ladyship argues that by her suspension, she has effectively been removed from her official capacity without a final determination, impairing her right to function and serve in a position she was constitutionally appointed to,” Dr. Srem Sai wrote.
Justice Torkornoo’s filing adds an international dimension to the legal dispute surrounding her suspension, which has sparked widespread debate within Ghana’s legal and political circles.
The ECOWAS Court is mandated to adjudicate matters involving alleged violations of human rights by member states under the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States.
