The National President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, has made a passionate appeal for the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo to be revisited, cautioning that the decision could set a dangerous precedent for the country’s judicial system.
Speaking at the 43rd anniversary memorial service for the three High Court judges who were brutally murdered in 1982, Ghartey emphasized that the suspension not only undermines the judiciary’s independence but also risks damaging the core principles of justice and fairness that Ghana has fought hard to uphold.
Chief Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, after three separate petitions accused her of misconduct. A five-member committee was quickly set up to investigate the claims, but the process has since faced significant scrutiny and criticism, especially from the legal fraternity.
The GBA has already described the suspension process as unconstitutional and a violation of the rule of law. Reinforcing this position, Ghartey urged that the matter be reconsidered in the interest of the country’s democracy and judicial integrity.
“In the spirit of reconciliation, all the various calls made for a reconsideration of the suspension of the Chief Justice in the circumstances, as it sets a poor precedent, will not go unyielded,” she stated.
Quoting scripture to emphasize the values of justice and humility, Ghartey said, “We yearn for peace and strive for justice as found in Micah 6:8: ‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.’”
She firmly reminded Ghanaians that the Ghana Bar Association’s commitment to defending the judiciary is not about personalities but about protecting the sanctity of the judicial system.
“It is hoped that any Superior Court Judge will be well apprised of the entire process before ever being subjected to the same in the spirit of fairness,” she added.
Ghartey also warned against the growing tendency of political score-settling in Ghana’s governance and judicial processes, urging the nation to resist the temptation of endless revenge cycles.
“We should be careful as a nation not to go down this slippery slope of endless revenge by justifying various acts with the phrase, ‘but others did that too,’” she cautioned.
She emphasized that Ghana must prioritize the rule of law over partisanship and political retaliation, especially at a time when the memory of the murdered judges serves as a painful reminder of what happens when justice is compromised.
As the nation continues to reflect on the sacrifices of the judicial martyrs, Ghartey called for unity, fairness, and a collective effort to protect the independence of the courts, insisting that Ghana’s future depends on it.
