President John Dramani Mahama has thanked the Council of State for fulfilling its part of what he describes as the “difficult issue” which his administration had to deal with, regarding the petitions seeking the potential removal of the Chief Justice.
The presidency is now awaiting the outcome of the special committee tasked to investigate the three petitions filed against Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, according to the President.
Addressing the Council at the Jubilee House Monday, July 7, 2025, the President noted that the matter involving the Chief Justice is a sensitive one, commending the Council for playing its role in the initial stages for the committee to be set up.
“On the issue of governance, we’ve had the difficult issue with regards to the suspension of the Chief Justice and of course, the Council of State was involved in a part of that process,” the President said.
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He indicated that the presidency had done its part and was awaiting the committee to submit its report to determine the next line of action.
“We’ve done our part. The rest is left with the committee that was set up to come out with whatever its findings are, and based on that, whatever the consequential issues are, will be dealt with.”
Prior to the commencement of the committee’s investigations, Chief Justice Torkornoo was suspended by the President after the petition seeking her removal was presented to the President, in line with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
The committee is mandated to investigate the petition and make recommendations for further action.
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The President’s remarks come amid growing public discourse and institutional appeals, including from the Ghana Bar Association and civil society groups, over the implications of the Chief Justice’s suspension on judicial independence and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, government communicators have said the President has not breached any provision in the constitution, as per Article 146, insisting that due process has been followed, and therefore, there will be no consequences for Ghana’s democracy, contrary to claims by a section of the public, particularly the opposition NPP and the Minority in Parliament.
