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In a decisive legal blow to embattled Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court on Wednesday, July 31, dismissed her application for judicial review, branding it as an “abuse of court processes” and asserting that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The ruling marks a turning point in the protracted legal and constitutional battle over petitions seeking her removal from office and significantly narrows the Chief Justice’s legal avenues to halt the proceedings.
Describing the application as an improper use of judicial procedure, the court suggested that the Chief Justice’s move sought to stall or obstruct the constitutionally mandated process, rather than pursue legitimate redress. The term “abuse of court processes” in this context suggests an effort to manipulate judicial systems to delay or frustrate justice.
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Though the full written judgement is yet to be released, the implication is clear: the court viewed the application as vexatious and constitutionally untenable.
Justice Torkornoo, appointed in June 2023 as Ghana’s 15th Chief Justice and the third woman to hold the position, has been fighting for her judicial life since the filing of multiple petitions for her removal.
Under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, the removal of a Chief Justice or Supreme Court judge requires that a petition be submitted to the President, who then refers the matter to the Council of State and subsequently appoints a special investigative committee.
Wednesday’s ruling follows a similar setback in May 2025, when the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed an injunction application filed by the Chief Justice, aimed at halting the work of the investigative committee.
That decision cleared the path for the five-member panel to proceed, rejecting arguments that the process was flawed or politically motivated.
With both the High Court and the Supreme Court now having rejected her legal manoeuvres, the judiciary appears unified in affirming the integrity of the constitutional removal process.
Despite mounting legal losses, Chief Justice Torkornoo remains unbowed. At a fiery press conference on June 25, she vowed not to resign, calling the process “politically driven,” “flawed,” and “unconstitutional.” She alleged that she had received veiled threats to step down quietly to avoid a formal probe—an allegation that has added a layer of controversy to the saga.
“To resign would be to legitimise an unconstitutional and cruel process,” she declared.
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