Suspended Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Torkornoo, who has taken her case to the ECOWAS Court of Justice, is seeking $10 million in compensation from the Government of Ghana.
Justice Torkornoo is demanding the sum for what she describes as moral and reputational damage resulting from her suspension from office.
Her legal team argues that the suspension has not only tarnished her public image but also infringed on her rights and undermined the integrity of the Judiciary.
In her petition, she is urging the regional court to hold the Ghanaian state accountable, alleging that due process was not followed in her removal and that the actions taken against her were politically motivated.
In all, the embattled Chief Justice Torkornoo is seeking nine reliefs from the Community Court of Justice.
In April 2025, President John Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, suspended the Chief Justice following a prima facie case established from three separate petitions seeking her removal.
Read full details of the reliefs being sought below:
- A “declaration that the suspension of the Applicant (Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo) as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent’s State on 22 April 2025 violated the Applicant’s human rights to a fair hearing guaranteed by Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
- “A declaration that the panel instituted by the Respondent (Ghana) to investigate and determine the allegations of misconduct against the Applicant was not constituted to guarantee its independence and impartiality and as such has violated the Applicant’s human right to fair hearing guaranteed by Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
- “A declaration that the purported suspension of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent State on 22 April 2025, constitutes a violation of her human right to fair equitable and satisfactory conditions guaranteed by Article 15 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
- “a declaration that the purported suspension of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent State on 22 April 2025 has exposed her to public ridicule and odium locally and internationally and the said act constitutes a violation of her human right to dignity guaranteed by Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
- “a declaration that by subjecting the Applicant to an illegal and unfair investigation and trial since April 2025, the Respondent has inflicted injuries on her professional standing and image, thereby ‘exposing her and her family to immeasurable public ridicule.”
- “an order to the Respondent Republic to act immediately to prescribe the rule of procedure to govern the investigation of allegations of misconduct against the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana in conformity with the right to fair hearing guaranteed by the Constitution of Ghana and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
- “an order directing the Respondent to immediately lift the suspension and restore the Applicant to full office until the conclusion of fair constitutional proceedings.”
- “an order restraining the Respondent from continuing with the purported inquiry for the removal of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana in its current form, until it conforms to fair hearing guarantees.”
- “an award of USD 10 million as compensation for moral and reputational damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of her illegal suspension and unfair investigation, and lastly, “any other relief(s) as the Honourable Court deems just.”
In addition, Chief Justice Torkornoo has requested that the Court, pending its decision on the merits of the main case, assign four precautionary measures to Ghana.
1. “That the Republic of Ghana suspend the disciplinary/removal from office as Chief Justice process against the Applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the complaint on the merits.”
2. “That Ghana ensures that the Applicant continues to enjoy the paraphernalia and entitlements of her office as the Chief Justice of Ghana pending the hearing and determination of the case.”
3. “That Ghana refrains from taking any other measures that may harm the rights claimed by the Applicant and /or aggravate or extend the dispute submitted to the Court, or compromise the implementation of any decision that the Court may render.”
4. “Given the urgency of the situation, the Applicant respectfully requests the Court to hold a hearing on this request as soon as possible, and that the President of the Court ask Ghana to act in order to allow any order that the Court may issue on the Request for Assignment of Precautionary Measures to have its appropriate effect.”