"I Refuse to Resign – Will Confront This Flawed and Hidden Process" – Justice Torkornoo
Suspended Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has declared her firm decision not to step down from office, despite facing an impeachment process under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, June 25, Justice Torkornoo described the ongoing process as unjust and biased. She stated that resigning now would falsely suggest that the allegations of misconduct leveled against her are valid.
“I do not cling to position or title,” she said, “but as someone who has served in the justice system for nearly four decades, I see it as my duty to stand up against the injustice I am now experiencing.”
She emphasized that resigning or retiring in the midst of Article 146 proceedings is not only improper but legally disallowed, referencing a Supreme Court decision (Suit No. J6/02/2019) that supports her position.
Justice Torkornoo warned that stepping away from the process could lead to serious consequences—including the loss of benefits and entitlements, as well as the risk of judgment being passed without a defense.
“No one has the legal right to simply walk away from a State-initiated process,” she noted. “Doing so allows false claims to stand uncontested, resulting in double harm—unjust judgment and loss of everything worked for.”
She hinted that there may be coordinated attempts to pressure her into resigning, thereby enabling political actors to portray her exit as an admission of guilt.
“If I resign now, I’d be validating an opaque and flawed process. That is not acceptable.”
Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, after President John Dramani Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, determined that a prima facie case had been established based on multiple petitions alleging misconduct.
As mandated by the Constitution, a five-member committee was formed to probe the allegations in private. However, legal efforts by Justice Torkornoo to halt the process—including four separate suits and injunction requests—were dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Despite these setbacks, the Chief Justice remains resolute, pledging to defend herself both legally and ethically.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
