President Akufo-Addo has received a petition requesting the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo from office over allegations of misconduct and incompetence.

The petition, filed on December 17, 2024, by Ghanaian-American Professor of Accounting and lawyer, Stephen Kwaku Asare accuses Justice Torkonoo of constitutional and administrative breaches that, according to the petitioner, have undermined the credibility and integrity of the judiciary.

Asare argues that the Chief Justice’s removal is essential to preserving public confidence in Ghana’s judicial system.

He emphasises that her alleged actions have compromised the judicial system’s integrity and must be addressed.

The process for removing a Chief Justice is enshrined in Article 146 of Ghana’s constitution, which governs the procedures for dismissal based on misconduct or incompetence.

The petition also comes just one month before President Akufo-Addo’s tenure ends, raising questions about the timing of the appeal.

The President is expected to adhere to constitutional provisions in addressing the petition.

The petitioner, in a letter dated December 17, noted that “The legal basis of my petition is Article 146 (1) of the 1992 constitution of the republic of Ghana [the constitution]. For the avoidance of doubt, my petition focuses on stated misbehaviour and incompetence related to the Chief Justice’s administrative functions as head of the judiciary responsible for its supervision and administration under article 125 (4) of the constitution.”

“Accordingly, the petition does not challenge any decisions, orders, or directives issued by the Chief Justice in the performance of her duties as a justice of the Supreme Court, including those made to enforce judgments, decrees, or orders in cases she has adjudicated.”