The Centre for Citizenship, Constitutional and Electoral Systems (CenCES) has dragged the government to the Supreme Court over what it describes as an unconstitutional move by President Akufo-Addo to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and initiate a probe into petitions against her.
In a writ filed on May 15, 2025, the civil society group contends that the President’s April 22 decision to suspend the Chief Justice and appoint a five-member committee—chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang—violates key provisions of the 1992 Constitution.
The group is suing the Attorney General, the Chief Justice herself, and Justice Pwamang, arguing that the process breached constitutional safeguards meant to ensure judicial independence and fair treatment before the law.
CenCES insists that the President acted prematurely by failing to properly determine a prima facie case against the Chief Justice as outlined under Article 146.
It believes the move not only undermines the judiciary’s autonomy but also disregards the rights of the Chief Justice to equal protection under the law and a fair hearing.
The group wants the Supreme Court to strike down the suspension as null and void, halt the committee from continuing its work, and reaffirm the constitutional limits placed on executive interference in judicial matters.
According to the writ, the President’s actions were arbitrary, capricious, and a threat to the very foundation of the rule of law in Ghana.
