Removed CJ Torkornoo cannot return to Supreme Court bench-Justice Atuguba

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice William Atuguba, has firmly dismissed the idea that former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo could return to her role as a Supreme Court judge following her removal from office.

In an exclusive interview with JoyNews, Justice Atuguba clarified that, under the Ghanaian Constitution, removal from the position of Chief Justice also terminates the individual's tenure as a justice of the apex court.

Rejecting the notion of a dual tenure—one as Chief Justice and another as a regular justice—Atuguba described such interpretations as legally imaginative but unconvincing.

His comments come amid debates over whether the former CJ, after being removed from the leadership role, could resume her seat as a justice on the Supreme Court bench. Some have argued that her removal was akin to double punishment, stripping her of both titles simultaneously.

Justice Atuguba acknowledged these concerns and conceded that some degree of unfairness may exist in the system. However, he emphasized that the legal basis for removal is clearly outlined in the Constitution.

Turning to the issue of pensions and entitlements following dismissal, Justice Atuguba noted that while the Constitution does not specify penalties in such cases, administrative procedures generally govern the outcomes.

Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who served more than 20 years on the bench, was removed following a presidential directive based on recommendations from a Committee of Inquiry. The development has sparked legal and political commentary nationwide, with many questioning the long-term implications for judicial independence.