Former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has filed a legal challenge to halt the vetting and appointment of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as Ghana’s next Chief Justice.
The suit filed at the High Court seeks to nullify all actions taken by the Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang Committee, which was established to investigate petitions leading to her removal.
In her application, Justice Torkornoo is asking the court to declare the committee’s proceedings invalid and to nullify the Presidential Warrant that effected her removal from office, describing it as illegal and of no effect.
The legal action comes at a time when the Parliamentary Appointments Committee is set to vet Justice Baffoe-Bonnie for the top judicial position.
Justice Torkornoo was dismissed from office on September 1, 2025, by President John Mahama, acting on the recommendation of a committee established under Article 146 of the Constitution. The committee, after consulting the Council of State, found her guilty of misconduct, including the misuse of public funds and breaches of constitutional provisions.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has been serving as Acting Chief Justice since April 22, 2025, following Justice Torkornoo’s suspension. He was formally nominated by the President in September to assume the role substantively.
The dismissed Former Chief Justice has also filed a legal challenge at the High Court in Accra, seeking to stop what she describes as the unlawful denial of her salary, benefits, and entitlements following her removal from office.
In her application for judicial review, filed on October 16, 2025, Justice Torkornoo is asking the court to issue an order prohibiting the government from withholding her lawful entitlements that were due to her before the issuance of the presidential warrant removing her from office on September 1, 2025.
