The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has firmly denied accusations that political motives are influencing the ongoing impeachment proceedings against suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, calling the claims “unfounded” and lacking evidence.
Speaking at a press briefing shortly after Justice Torkornoo publicly decried the handling of the inquiry process, Kwakye Ofosu insisted that the government and President John Dramani Mahama have remained fully committed to the rule of law throughout the matter.
“It does not matter how sensitive your position, once Ghanaian law dictates that certain processes must be taken in respect of alleged misconduct, the rules must come into play,” he said. “That is the only guiding principle President Mahama has operated by. Any claim, reference, or imputation of a political motive to the President in respect of these processes is unfounded, false, and cannot be allowed to stand.”
His response follows a detailed and emotional press conference by the Chief Justice earlier in the day, during which she raised serious concerns about procedural breaches and alleged intimidation in the handling of the case against her.
Justice Torkornoo claimed that the investigative committee probing the misconduct allegations had:
Denied her legal representation at the start of proceedings
Failed to provide formal charges
Prevented key petitioners from testifying
Subjected her to invasive searches and isolation during hearings
“These violations have not stopped,” she stated. “Indeed, they have escalated beyond anything I could have imagined as possible in justice delivery.” She warned that the ongoing process poses a grave threat to judicial independence in Ghana.
Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, after President Mahama acted on the advice of the Council of State, based on a prima facie case of misconduct under Article 146(10) of the 1992 Constitution. Following constitutional procedure under Article 146(6), a five-member committee was established to conduct a formal inquiry.
The committee’s hearings are being held in camera, in accordance with constitutional provisions, but Justice Torkornoo has criticized the closed-door nature of the proceedings as opaque and “intimidating.”
Her efforts to challenge the process in court — through four separate legal actions — have all been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Despite the controversy and growing calls from parts of the legal community and civil society for transparency, the government maintains that the impeachment proceedings are being handled strictly within the bounds of the Constitution.
“As yet, absolutely no evidence has been furnished in any way, shape, or form to support allegations of political interference,” Kwakye Ofosu reiterated.
The case has triggered widespread debate on constitutional accountability, the balance between executive authority and judicial independence, and the limits of due process in high-profile disciplinary matters. Justice Torkornoo, Ghana’s third female Chief Justice, remains the first in the country’s history to be suspended while in office and subjected to potential removal through this constitutional mechanism.
