Supreme Court unanimously dismiss suspended CJ's injunction application against removal committee

The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an application for injunction filed by Ghana’s suspended Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, in a bid to stop the ongoing investigation into petitions calling for her dismissal.

The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, May 28, marks another legal setback for Justice Torkornoo, who sought to block the work of a presidentially-appointed committee probing her conduct.

Earlier the same day, the apex court had also thrown out a supplementary affidavit she submitted to support her case.

Justice Torkornoo approached the Supreme Court on May 21, 2025, asking for an order to suspend all activities of the investigative committee established by President John Mahama. The committee is currently reviewing three separate petitions lodged against her.

Her application requested an interlocutory injunction to pause the committee’s operations until the Supreme Court issues a final ruling on the legality of the removal process.

In her filing, the Chief Justice specifically asked the Court to restrain six individuals serving on the committee — Justices Gabriel Pwamang and Samuel Adibu-Asiedu, along with Daniel Domelevo, Major Flora Dalugo, and Professor James Dziasah — from continuing any investigative work related to the petitions.

She further urged the Court to disqualify Justices Pwamang and Adibu-Asiedu from taking part in any of the committee’s discussions or decisions.

Additionally, Justice Torkornoo sought the suspension of her suspension itself, arguing that the presidential directive issued under Article 146(10) of the Constitution should not take effect until her case is resolved.

This is not the only legal challenge to the committee’s work. Previous lawsuits filed by other individuals and civil society groups against the committee’s proceedings have also been dismissed by the Supreme Court.