Chief Justice Torkornoo served with petitions for removal as President Mahama condemns leak

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has been served with copies of three petitions calling for her removal from office.

She has been requested to submit a preliminary response to the petitions within ten days.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has condemned the unauthorised leakage of confidential documents related to the petition.

This development follows the submission of three separate petitions—two dated February 14, 2025, and a third from March 17, 2025,—all seeking the Chief Justice's removal from office.

In an official communication signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, the Presidency outlined the next steps in this unprecedented constitutional process.

"His Excellency wishes to assure the Chief Justice that due process will be followed in handling this matter," Mahama stated, emphasising that the judicial leader would receive "a full and fair opportunity to be heard."

The letter highlights the delicate nature of the proceedings, noting that the President had already consulted the Council of State, chaired by former Speaker Doe Adjaho, as required by Article 146(6) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

This consultation took place on March 24, with the Council providing its response just three days later, on March 27.

However, the proceedings have been overshadowed by controversy following the unauthorised circulation of confidential documents.

The Presidency expressed deep disappointment that the Chief Justice’s March 27 correspondence had appeared on social media platforms before official channels could properly process it.

"We are constrained to mark each page of the attachments as 'restricted'," President Mahama declared, referencing the Supreme Court's precedent in the Frank Agyei Twum v. Attorney-General case, which establishes strict confidentiality for such proceedings.