In a 3-2 majority ruling, the Supreme Court denied a motion for an injunction to prevent Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo’s suspension.
On May 21, 2025, the five-member panel, which is chaired by Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, is expected to present thorough justifications for the ruling.
The majority was made up by Justices Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, Amadu Tanko, and Baffoe-Bonnie. Ernest Gaewu and Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu were the dissident justices.
The court previously dismissed a motion for Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to recuse himself from the case made by former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s personal interest in the case, according to Mr. Dame, the applicant’s attorney and Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assifuah, could jeopardize his position as Acting Chief Justice.
He said the outcome could affect both his position and the suspended Chief Justice.
Dr Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney-General, opposed the objection, calling it misconceived.
He said Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, in his acting role, was mandated to perform all required duties, and no conflict of interest existed.
Dr Srem-Sai described the matter as constitutional, stating that personal interest did not apply and Mr. Dame’s objection had no legal basis.
On April 22, 2025, President John Mahama suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo and established a five-member committee to investigate a prima facie case against her.
Mr. Assifuah filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to halt both the suspension and the execution of the presidential warrant pending investigations into the petitions.
Credit:GNA