GBA renews call for CJ Torkornoo’s reinstatement at 43rd Martyrs’ Day memorial

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has renewed its call for the reinstatement of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, urging national reflection and an end to what it described as a culture of score-settling.

The appeal was made during a memorial service on Friday, June 28, marking the 42nd anniversary of the abduction and murder of three High Court judges and a retired army officer—an event etched into Ghana’s democratic memory as a brutal assault on judicial independence.

Speaking at the commemorative gathering, GBA President Efua Ghartey underscored the association’s unwavering concern over the ongoing removal proceedings against Justice Torkornoo, which she said threaten the integrity of the judiciary.

Ghartey emphasized that any disciplinary action against a Superior Court judge must follow a transparent and just process, stating that “defending the judiciary’s independence is the mandate of the Ghana Bar Association, and this is not personality-driven.”

Her remarks followed recent statements by Justice Torkornoo herself, who described her suspension as an assault on judicial autonomy, warning of encroaching political interference in the nation’s legal system.

Calling for calm and reflection, Ghartey added, “On this day that we meet to honour the memory of the martyrs of the rule of law, let us resolve as a nation to do ourselves proud and humbly walk away from settling scores endlessly, as we are one nation with one destiny.”

She urged decision-makers to reconsider the suspension, which she believes sets a troubling precedent for the judiciary. “We yearn for peace and strive for justice,” she concluded.

Justice Torkornoo was suspended in April 2025 following a series of petitions seeking her removal — a move that has since drawn widespread criticism both locally and abroad, sparking debate over the boundaries of executive power and judicial independence in Ghana.