Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo and Charlotte Osei
Former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Charlotte Osei, has commented humorously on the recent controversy surrounding the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, saying she would have “died from sneezing” if the old African belief about sneezing and being mentioned were true.
She says Ghanaians have frequently mentioned her name over the past two weeks.
Although she did not directly state the reason for the resurgence of her name in public discourse, many social media users have drawn parallels between her removal from office and the current suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo.
Charlotte Osei, who was appointed by the then-National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, was removed from office by the administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Critics and social media commentators have likened her situation to the Chief Justice’s, describing it as a case of “karma.”
They note that, similar to her own experience, petitions were submitted to the President, who subsequently referred them to the Council of State for consideration, leading to her removal.
In the current controversy, President John Dramani Mahama has suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo pending further investigations.
On her social media page on April 26, 2025, Charlotte Osei lamented, “You know how they say in Africa that if you sneeze, it means your name is being mentioned somewhere in your absence? I can confirm this is absolutely not true because, like the past two weeks, I would have died from sneezing! Ebeiiiii.”
Charlotte’s post comes in the wake of President Mahama’s suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following the establishment of a prima facie case against her.
The action was taken in accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State in relation to three petitions filed against the Chief Justice.
A statement dated Tuesday, April 22, 2025, explained, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, determined that a prima facie case has been established in respect of three petitions against the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.”
It further stated that the President had set up a five-member committee to investigate the petitions. The members of the committee are:
•Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice of the Supreme Court (Chairman)
•Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice of the Supreme Court (Member)
•Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Former Auditor-General (Member)
•Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, Ghana Armed Forces (Member)
•Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor, University of Ghana (Member)
“Pursuant to Article 146(10) of the Constitution and in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, the President has, by a warrant, suspended the Chief Justice with immediate effect pending the outcome of the committee’s proceedings,” the statement added.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, born on September 11, 1962, in Cape Coast, was sworn in as Ghana’s 15th Chief Justice on June 12, 2023, by then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, becoming the third woman to hold the position.
She joined the judiciary in 2004, was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019, and has been credited with driving reforms such as the E-Justice system. Justice Torkornoo is also an accomplished author and poet.
You know how they say in Africa that if you sneeze, it means your name is being mentioned somewhere in your absence. I can confirm this is absolutely not true 😅. Because like the past two weeks, I would have died from sneezing! 🤧 Ebeiiiii #africantales #sneezing pic.twitter.com/ZKsN6MB3Q8
— Nana Ama (@char_osei) April 26, 2025
AM/SEA
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