The removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has taken a fresh twist after NDC legal team member, Abraham Amaliba, revealed she had tried to secure a retirement deal with full benefits before being dismissed.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints on September 6, Mr. Amaliba said Justice Torkornoo reached out through two respected figures in the country, asking President John Mahama to allow her to step down peacefully.
“They came to plead that she should be allowed to retire with all her entitlements,” Amaliba disclosed.
His comments came after fellow panelist Mr. Ansa-Asare suggested that, on humanitarian grounds, the Chief Justice should have been given the chance to retire gracefully after serving for over 21 years.
But Amaliba explained that Torkornoo herself derailed the talks when she suddenly decided to challenge her removal in court. “Somehow, when the discussion was ongoing, she went to court to fight her removal process,” he said.
This, he noted, ended any chance of negotiating a retirement package.
Her removal follows President Mahama’s decision on September 1, 2025, based on the recommendation of a five-member committee set up under Article 146 of the Constitution. The committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, found her guilty of “stated misbehaviour.”
Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has since clarified that once a Chief Justice is removed for such reasons, they automatically lose all benefits and entitlements.
The case continues to spark debate, with critics questioning the political and legal undertones of the removal, while others insist the decision was a constitutional requirement.
source: almightyfm
