The Chairman of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry has formally presented its first report on the petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman recalled that President Mahama had, in March this year, received three separate petitions under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, all seeking the removal of the Chief Justice.
“Mr President, in March this year, you received three petitions pursuant to Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude A. E. Sackey Torkornoo, and the public was made aware of this fact,” the Chairman said.
He explained that the constitutional processes were followed, leading to the establishment of the committee under Article 146(6).
The committee began its work on 15 May 2025, with the public duly notified through the Minister of State for Government Communications.
The Chairman noted that while the inquiry attracted “considerable national and international interest,” the committee refrained from responding to false reports and commentary about its work.
“To the committee, our mandate and remit as set out under Article 146(7) and (8) of the Constitution is clear, and it is to inquire into the petitions in camera, hear the person against whom the petitions have been brought, and then to make a recommendation to the President,” he stressed.
On the first petition, filed by Mr. Daniel Ofori, the Chairman disclosed that the petitioner called 13 witnesses, while the Chief Justice testified personally and called 12 witnesses, including expert witnesses.
“In all, the committee received about 10,000 pages of documentary exhibits from both sides.
After critical and dispassionate examination and assessment of all the evidence against the provisions of the Constitution and the relevant laws, we have, without fear or favour, arrived at a recommendation,” he announced.
The recommendation, sealed in an envelope, was handed over to President Mahama at the ceremony.
On the second petition, the Chairman revealed that both the petitioner and the Chief Justice requested an adjournment, which the committee granted.
“Accordingly, we shall be reporting on the second and third petitions in due time,” he concluded.
