‘Only you can stop this assault on judicial independence’ – CJ begs Supreme Court

Suspended Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, has appealed passionately to the Supreme Court to protect her from what she calls a “coordinated, degrading, and unconstitutional campaign” to remove her from office. According to her, this campaign is not only an attack on her personally but also a threat to the very independence of Ghana’s judiciary.

In a powerful supplementary affidavit filed on Monday, May 26, 2025, Justice Torkornoo detailed how she has been treated in the ongoing impeachment process. She described the entire process as “a mockery of justice”, “mentally torturous”, and worse than how treason suspects are treated in Ghana.

She is praying the Supreme Court to immediately stop the impeachment inquiry by granting an interlocutory injunction—a temporary legal stop—until the matter is fully resolved.

“Only the Supreme Court Can Stop This Injustice”

In her own words, Justice Torkornoo told the court:

“This Honourable Court is the only shield between me and an unconstitutional assault on the office I hold and the independence it symbolises. Only you can stop this assault on judicial independence.”

She said what is happening to her is not just illegal but also shameful, and if the highest court in the land does not intervene, it will destroy the respect and freedom that judges in Ghana need to do their work without fear or favour.

Due Process Ignored, Rights Violated

Justice Torkornoo believes the committee set up by the President to look into her case has disrespected the rule of law and disregarded her basic human rights.

She revealed that she has not been told what exactly she is being accused of, nor has she seen the legal reasons why the committee decided that there is a case for her to answer.

“How can I defend myself when I don’t even know what I’m defending against?” she asked the court.

She added that all her attempts to get a fair hearing have been ignored. Her lawyers were even sidelined at a crucial hearing on May 15, even though they had received an official notice to appear.

“The committee simply refused to recognise my counsel because I was not physically present,” she wrote in disbelief.

Court Action Ignored by Committee

Justice Torkornoo also described how the committee ignored the fact that she had taken the matter to the Supreme Court. She appeared before the committee on May 22, with her legal team, and informed the members that she had filed a lawsuit and had requested an injunction.

She said the committee asked for copies of her legal documents and adjourned the hearing for a day. But the very next day, on May 23, the committee announced that it would proceed with the inquiry, ignoring the fact that the case was now officially before the Supreme Court.

“This was shocking,” she said, describing the move as an affront to justice.

Petitioners Hiding Behind Witnesses

According to the Chief Justice, the committee has allowed the people who filed the petition against her to bring in third-party witnesses instead of testifying themselves.

This, she says, is completely wrong and against all legal standards.

“Petitioners must appear in person, take an oath, and be cross-examined. That is what justice demands,” she stressed.

She added that allowing outsiders to testify while the petitioners hide from cross-examination is not only suspicious but also a clear breach of natural justice.

Humiliating Treatment at the Castle

Perhaps the most disturbing part of her affidavit is the way she says she has been treated physically during the hearings.

She revealed that the inquiry is being held at the Osu Castle, a military-controlled high-security zone, instead of a proper court building like the Judicial Service Complex, where all other similar proceedings have taken place.

At the Castle, she says:

She and her lawyers were searched like criminals.

Their phones and laptops were seized, preventing them from properly preparing for the hearing.

Her husband and children were denied access to the premises.

Meanwhile, the petitioners’ lawyers had full access to their gadgets and were not searched.

“These actions are not just procedural irregularities. They are deliberate tactics designed to mentally break me and tarnish the dignity of my office,” she wrote.

She added that holding such a serious legal process in a military zone is clearly meant to intimidate her and is unheard of in Ghana’s legal history.

“The choice of the Castle as the venue boggles the mind,” she added.

A Threat to the Entire Judiciary

Justice Torkornoo said this matter is bigger than just her. She warned that if what is happening to her is allowed to continue, it will put every judge in Ghana at risk of political interference.

“What is at stake is the security of tenure for every justice of the Superior Courts of Judicature. What is under threat is the very soul of our Constitution,” she warned.

She said the current situation sends a dangerous message—that any judge, no matter how senior or independent, can be removed through intimidation and back-door processes.

A Final Plea for Justice

In the end, Justice Torkornoo’s affidavit is not just a legal document. It is a cry for help, a call for justice, and a warning to all Ghanaians.

She says she has no problem with facing fair and lawful investigations, but what she is going through is neither fair nor lawful. It is, in her words, “an unconstitutional attack disguised as due process.”

She is begging the Supreme Court to step in, not just to protect her job, but to protect the integrity of Ghana’s judiciary.

“This is not about me alone. This is about the future of our justice system and the respect we give to our Constitution,” she said.