Embattled former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has filed a motion at the Supreme Court seeking a review of the apex court’s ruling dated May 28, 2026, in which it consolidated two suits challenging her removal from office.
The application, filed on June 23, 2026, by her lawyer Kwabena Adu-Kusi of Adu-Kusi PRUC, invokes Article 133 of the 1992 Constitution and Rules 54, 55, and 56 of the Supreme Court Rules, 1996 (C.I. 16).
It prays the court to set aside five specific orders made during a case management hearing on May 28.
According to the affidavit in support, deposed by Justice Torkornoo herself, her counsel in Writ No. J1/22/25, Godfred Yeboah Dame, filed a notice withdrawing his representation on the morning of the hearing. The Supreme Court panel, presided over by Justice I.O. Tanko Amadu with Justices Kulendi, Kwofie, Dzamefe, Dominic Adjei, Suurbaareh and Amaleboba, noted the absence of legal representation for Torkornoo in that suit as well as the absence of the Attorney-General.
Despite acknowledging that the withdrawal notice was defective and that the court could not presume she had been personally notified, the panel proceeded to adopt the memorandum of issues filed by the parties, consolidate Writ No. J1/20/25 filed by the Centre for Citizenship Constitutional Electoral Systems (CenCES) and Writ No. J1/22/25 filed by Torkornoo herself, and adjourn the consolidated matter to July 2, 2026, for judgment.
Torkornoo argues that these orders were made in her absence and without representation, constituting a breach of the audi alteram partem rule, which amounts to a fundamental error and a miscarriage of justice. She further contends that the subsequent service of the proceedings on her lawyer in the related suit, Kwabena Adu-Kusi, while he was out of jurisdiction, also violated proper procedure despite an ex-parte order obtained for substituted service.
The former Chief Justice, who was removed from office on September 1, 2025, by President John Dramani Mahama following recommendations of a committee chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, maintains that the circumstances surrounding the May 28 proceedings were exceptional and warrant a review under the court’s powers.
Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice on June 24, 2026, dismissed Torkornoo’s challenge to her suspension and removal, upholding the processes adopted by Ghanaian authorities.
