Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has submitted her preliminary response to President John Mahama following petitions seeking her removal from office.
This comes as the 10-day deadline given to her to respond had elapsed on Monday, April 7. The petitions, received by the President in early March, have generated widespread public interest and legal debate over the constitutional process for removing a sitting Chief Justice.
Last week, Justice Torkornoo wrote to the President requesting copies of the petitions and asked for at least seven days to respond, citing the principles of due process and fairness.
Her response has now been formally submitted to both the President and the Council of State, as required under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution. The Council of State is expected to be consulted as part of the next steps in determining whether a committee should be set up to investigate the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a suit on April 9, filed by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah. The suit challenges the legality of the President initiating the removal process without first notifying the Chief Justice.
Under Article 146 of the Constitution, a Chief Justice may only be removed for stated misbehaviour, incompetence, or an inability to perform duties due to infirmity. The law outlines a detailed process involving presidential consultation with the Council of State, the establishment of a committee, and in-camera hearings before a final decision is made.
