Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has filed for a judicial review at the High Court. She wants the ongoing impeachment proceedings against her halted, citing major breaches of due process.
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At a press briefing, Justice Torkornoo outlined several concerns. She believes the Justice Pwamang Committee has violated legal and procedural standards throughout the process.
First, she said her legal counsel was ignored on the opening day. Although her lawyer was present, the committee excluded him from the hearings simply because she wasn’t there in person. She called this a violation of natural justice.
Second, the committee reportedly failed to clarify which charges had been established against her. As a result, she said she couldn’t assess her legal position or prepare an effective defense.
Third, she raised concerns about not being allowed to cross-examine two petitioners, Daniel Ofori and Shining Stars, because the committee let them skip testifying.
Additionally, she claimed she was denied family support at hearings. She also said her body and personal belongings were searched in a way that disrespected her office.
Justice Torkornoo questioned why the hearings are taking place at the Adu Lodge facility on Castle Drive instead of a court or judicial building. She added that the location is historically linked to the murder of judges in 1981, including her uncle and guardian, Major Sam Acquah.
She warned that the current process threatens to erode protections granted under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. These safeguards exist to keep high-level public officials, like the Auditor-General and Electoral Commissioners, independent and free from political pressure.
The Chief Justice criticized the secretive nature of the hearings, saying they lack transparency and legal grounding. She described the proceedings as civil-style litigation that turns petitioners into prosecutors, without constitutional backing.
Rejecting calls for her resignation, she declared, “If I step down now, it will legitimize a flawed and opaque process. As Chief Justice, I must defend the truth.”
