For President John Dramani Mahama, the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo presents both a constitutional obligation and a political test.
While the President acted strictly within Article 146(9), Kow Abaka Essuman has stressed that his next move — whether to publish the committee’s report — will determine how Ghanaians judge his commitment to accountability.
“The Constitution does not, in any of its provisions, expressly prohibit the President from releasing the report…
“On the contrary, the Supreme Court has affirmed that once the Committee’s work is completed, the constitutional obligation of confidentiality ceases to apply,” Essuman explained.
He reminded Ghanaians that former President Akufo-Addo had set precedents of full disclosure, including releasing reports in the SML audit matter and petitions under Article 146.
Mahama, therefore, faces pressure to emulate that standard, but political observers note that releasing the report could expose internal divisions and fuel partisan battles over the late CJ’s legacy.
Essuman concluded that the matter goes beyond political calculation:
“In a democracy, public confidence in the administration of justice depends not just on outcomes, but on the openness and fairness of the process.”
