Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, has firmly rejected claims suggesting that political considerations are influencing the ongoing impeachment proceedings against the suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo. He described these allegations as “unfounded” and without merit.
In a public address following Justice Torkornoo’s press briefing on Wednesday, June 25, he emphasised that the impeachment process is being guided strictly by law and due process, rather than political interests. “It does not matter how sensitive your position is; once Ghanaian law stipulates that certain procedures must be followed in cases of alleged misconduct, those rules must be adhered to. This is the only guiding principle that President Mahama has operated by in this situation.
Any claims or insinuations suggesting a political motive behind the President’s actions in these processes are unfounded, false, and cannot be permitted,” he stated. His comments came in direct response to the statement made earlier by Chief Justice Torkornoo, who alleged that the ongoing proceedings violate natural justice, procedural fairness, and the dignity of her office. During a press conference in Accra, the Chief Justice claimed that the investigative committee had:
* Denied her legal representation on the first day of hearings,
* Failed to specify the charges against her,
* Prevented key petitioners from testifying, and
* Subjected her to invasive searches and denied access to family support during proceedings.
“These violations have not stopped. Indeed, they have escalated beyond anything I could have imagined as possible in justice delivery,” she said, warning that the process threatens “the very foundation of judicial independence in Ghana.”
Justice Torkornoo was suspended from office on April 22, 2025, after President Mahama acted on a prima facie determination made in consultation with the Council of State. This action triggered Article 146(10) of the 1992 Constitution, which allows the President to suspend a Chief Justice while a formal investigation into alleged misconduct is conducted.
Following constitutional protocol under Article 146(6), a five-member committee was formed to investigate the multiple petitions filed against her. The committee’s proceedings are being held in-camera, a standard practice for such investigations, though one that Justice Torkornoo has publicly criticised as opaque and intimidating. Her efforts to halt the proceedings through the courts, including four separate legal actions, were all dismissed by the Supreme Court.
While Justice Torkornoo’s public allegations have raised concerns among some civil society groups and segments of the legal fraternity, the government insists that the process remains constitutionally grounded and politically neutral. “As yet, absolutely no evidence has been furnished in any way, shape, or form to support allegations of political interference,” Kwakye Ofosu asserted.
By: Patricia Boakye
