Changes to removal rules meant to protect favourites after my ousting — CJ Torkonoo accuses gov’t

Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkonoo says the government is attempting to shield its preferred judges from removal after what she describes as her own “frivolous” and “unlawful” ousting, has been completed.

Her comment comes in reaction to an announcement by the government to introduce new rules for the removal of justices of the superior courts.

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga had told Parliament on Tuesday, May 27, that legal reforms were being proposed to fix loopholes in the constitutional framework governing the removal of judges, following recent judicial controversies.

But addressing the nation at a press conference on Wednesday, June 25, Justice Torkonoo questioned the timing and intent of the move.

“Interestingly, there have been some recent suggestions about rules being made to safeguard judges from frivolous attempts to remove them from office,” she said.

“It sounds like an attempt to assure the judiciary that after unconstitutional and illegal means have been used to remove me, conditions will be made safer for those who help with it, or those who may feel afraid by the current occurrences.”

She warned that the country risks suffering consequences for the alleged injustice done to her.

“Despite the interesting new discussions of rules for ‘removing judges’, I am convinced that it will only be a matter of time before the nation’s democracy experiences the bitter harvest of what I am reporting on,” she added.

Justice Torkonoo was suspended in April after the Council of State established a prima facie case in three separate petitions seeking her removal from office.

President Mahama, acting under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, then constituted a five-member committee to investigate the claims.