Ok Wednesday, 28th May, 2025, the Supreme Court of Ghana rejected an extra affidavit submitted by the suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo.
She had filed this additional document to support her request for an injunction against the process seeking her removal from office. In the document, she complained of being treated unfairly, said her dignity was being disrespected, and described the investigation against her as a joke and a trick to push her out.
But the Supreme Court said her affidavit had serious problems. The judges pointed out that she mentioned things that happened during a private committee meeting that is legally supposed to stay secret. That committee is currently looking into whether she should be removed as Chief Justice.
A panel of five judges on the Supreme Court agreed with an objection from the deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem Sai. He explained that what Madam Torkonoo did went against Article 146(8) of Ghana’s Constitution, which clearly states that investigations into the removal of justices must be done in private (also called “in camera”).
He added that by putting those private details into a court document, the suspended Chief Justice broke the law, even if she didn’t share them publicly. But her lawyer, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who is also a former Attorney General, disagreed. He argued that since the affidavit was only submitted to the court and not released to the general public, it should not be considered a violation.
Despite his arguments, the Supreme Court ruled that Chief Justice Torkonoo’s affidavit still broke the confidentiality rule. Because of that, the court struck it out completely, meaning it won’t be considered as part of her case.
This development is a big blow to Torkonoo as she fights to keep her position. It also shows how seriously the court takes the need for privacy in such high-level investigations.
