Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior member of Ghana’s Supreme Court, has taken over as Acting Chief Justice following the suspension of Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
His appointment is in line with Article 144(6) of the 1992 Constitution, which provides that the longest-serving Justice of the Supreme Court shall act in the absence or inability of the Chief Justice to perform her duties.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who joined the Supreme Court bench in June 2008 under President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration, steps into the role at a time of significant judicial scrutiny.
President John Dramani Mahama suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo after a prima facie case was established against her in response to three separate petitions.
The suspension, made in consultation with the Council of State, is grounded in Articles 146(6) and 146(10) of the Constitution.
The Presidency, in a statement released on Tuesday, announced the formation of a five-member committee to investigate the allegations.
The committee is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang and includes Supreme Court Judge Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah of the University of Ghana.
Justice Torkornoo has been suspended with immediate effect by presidential warrant pending the committee’s findings.
