The Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association have voiced “serious concern” over the suspension of Ghana’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude A.E.S. Torkornoo, from office on April 22, 2025.
In a joint statement issued on August 14, the two bodies stressed the importance of judicial independence in any democracy.
“The existence of an independent and impartial judiciary is one of the cardinal features and bedrock of any country governed by the rule of law,” they said, noting Ghana’s longstanding commitment to the principles of the Commonwealth.
They warned that “any measure or action taken by the Executive which is capable of being seen as impacting an independent judiciary is a matter of serious concern.”
The statement highlighted that Justice Torkornoo has filed a lawsuit at the ECOWAS Court of Justice challenging the constitutionality of her suspension, following earlier domestic challenges over procedural fairness, judicial independence, and compliance with constitutional safeguards.
Quoting the Commonwealth Charter, the organisations reaffirmed: “We support an independent, impartial, honest and competent judiciary and recognise that an independent, effective and competent legal system is integral to upholding the rule of law, engendering public confidence and dispensing justice.”
The bodies also invoked the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles, insisting that any disciplinary proceedings against judicial officers must ensure fairness, the right to be fully informed of charges, representation, and judgment by an independent tribunal.
“We reiterate the serious concerns expressed in the joint statement of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association, and the Ghana Bar Association, and we record with regret,” the statement concluded.
