Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine [Left] and Suspended CJ Torkornoo
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has urged an Accra High Court to dismiss a case brought before it by the suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.
In court documents filed by Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem Sai, the state argued that the issues raised by Justice Torkornoo have either already been resolved or are currently under consideration by the Supreme Court.
Justice Torkornoo has approached both the Supreme Court and now the High Court, seeking to halt her removal process following the determination of a prima facie case against her by President John Dramani Mahama.
She claims her constitutional rights have been violated, arguing that she was not adequately informed of the basis on which the President and the Council of State made a prima facie determination regarding the petitions against her.
Justice Torkornoo also alleges that she has been subjected to invasive searches when appearing before the committee and has questioned the neutrality of Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, who is participating in the proceedings despite being involved in a related case.
Consequently, the Attorney General has outlined several related cases that have either been determined by the Supreme Court or remain pending before it. These include Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo v The Attorney-General & 5 Others (J8/113/2025), Centre for Citizenship Constitutional Electoral Systems LBG (CenCes) v The Attorney-General & 2 Others (J1/20/2025), and Vincent Ekow Assafuah v The Attorney-General (J1/18/2025).
According to Dr Ayine, these ongoing or concluded matters render the current High Court application improper.
“The issues forming the basis of the originating motion have either been adjudicated by the Supreme Court or are pending before it. This Honourable Court is therefore urged to strike out the Chief Justice’s application for judicial review,” he said.
Justice Torkornoo was suspended by President John Dramani Mahama after the President, in consultation with the Council of State, found a prima facie case against her based on three petitions for her removal.
JKB/MA
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