Editor of the Newscenta Newspaper, Elvis Darko, has criticised the work of the five-member committee that recommended the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, describing it as “shoddy” and “below standard.”
His comments follow the removal of Justice Torkonoo from office by President John Dramani Mahama, in line with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
The process was triggered by a petition filed on March 17, 2025, by Ghanaian citizen Daniel Ofori, who accused the former Chief Justice of misconduct and misbehaviour.
After reviewing the petition, her response, and advice from the Council of State, the President concluded that a prima facie case had been established, leading to the formation of the committee.
Mr. Darko questioned the credibility of some of the petitions entertained by the committee.
“I think that their job was shoddy, and to me, it was below standard,” he said.
He cited, in particular, a petition linked to a staff transfer within the judiciary, arguing that it was frivolous and should not have been considered as part of the process.
“The most frivolous one is someone saying that he has been transferred. This is simply a labour dispute, and our Constitution gives the Labour Commission the mandate to deal with such matters. If a staff member feels a transfer was unfair, the person should go to the Labour Commission. That has nothing to do with a petition or a removal process,” Mr. Darko explained.
He added that for the committee to entertain such an application “in the name of a labour dispute” was inappropriate and undermined the seriousness of the process.
