Suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo Demands $10m Compensation from Ghana
Gertrude Torkornoo Drags Ghana to ECOWAS Court Over Suspension
Edem Latsu Nukafu 
Suspended Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Torkornoo, is demanding $10 million in compensation from the Government of Ghana for moral and reputational damages, in a case filed before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.
Justice Torkornoo argues that her suspension on April 22, 2025, by President John Dramani Mahama violated her right to a fair hearing, as protected by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The suspension followed a recommendation by the Council of State, which concluded that there was a prima facie case warranting a full investigation.
A five-member committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang, is currently probing the allegations. However, the embattled Chief Justice and several other citizens have challenged the process through multiple legal actions, most of which have been filed at the Supreme Court.
Torkornoo has alleged that the committee’s procedures breached her rights, claiming she was searched thoroughly, denied access to her electronic devices, and not allowed to fully present her defence.
After the Supreme Court declined to halt the proceedings, she filed a similar case at the High Court, which is still pending.
Now escalating the matter to the ECOWAS Court, her legal team is seeking:
- A declaration that her suspension breached international human rights standards.
- A ruling that the panel investigating her lacks independence.
- An order lifting the suspension and restoring her to office.
- $10 million in compensation for damage to her moral standing and reputation.
This case adds further complexity to an already controversial situation that has sparked widespread debate within Ghana’s legal and political circles.
The outcome at the ECOWAS Court could set a significant precedent for the treatment of high-ranking judicial officers across the West African region.
