Ghana’s Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an injunction application filed by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, who sought to halt her ongoing suspension and impeachment proceedings.
A five-member panel of the court, led by Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, presided over the hearing. After careful consideration, the panel concluded that the application was devoid of merit, leading to its immediate dismissal.
This pivotal ruling means that the legal processes surrounding Chief Justice Torkornoo’s suspension and the impeachment proceedings against her can now proceed without further judicial impediment. The decision underscores the Supreme Court’s stance on the matter, asserting that the Chief Justice’s application did not meet the necessary legal thresholds for an injunction to be granted.
The move marks a significant development in the high-profile legal and political saga involving the head of Ghana’s judiciary. It reaffirms the legal framework’s ability to continue processes initiated by other arms of government, even when challenged by a high-ranking official. The unanimity of the Supreme Court’s decision also sends a clear message regarding the perceived lack of legal basis for the injunction request.
This outcome is expected to clear the path for the established constitutional procedures regarding the conduct and accountability of high judicial officers to run their course, without the immediate intervention that Chief Justice Torkornoo had sought.
Read the court’s full judgement authored by Justice Amadu Tanko with concurring opinion by Justice Adjei-Frimpong below:
