Suspended Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has vowed to face the ongoing inquiry into her potential removal from office, firmly rejecting increasing calls for her resignation.
Despite receiving threats to her life and enduring intense public pressure, Justice Torkornoo insists she will not step down while the case remains unresolved. “Resigning in these circumstances would suggest that I accept a process that is flawed, vague, and lacking transparency. I do not,” she stated firmly at a press briefing in Accra.
She emphasized that under the Ghanaian Constitution, no judge or public officer under investigation through Article 146 proceedings has the option to resign or retire mid-process. Citing Supreme Court case J6/02/2019, she explained that legal precedent prohibits such an exit during active investigations.
Justice Torkornoo dismissed any notion that her decision to continue was out of a desire to cling to power. Rather, she described her stance as a commitment to the rule of law and her professional duty. “With 38 years as a lawyer, 21 years on the bench, and my tenure as Chief Justice, I cannot ignore the responsibility I carry to defend the integrity of our justice system,” she explained.
She also warned that abandoning the legal process could result in serious consequences. “If a person fails to respond to legal proceedings initiated by the State, a judgment can be passed in their absence. Moreover, a judge who leaves their post in the middle of such a process forfeits their entitlements,” she noted.
Justice Torkornoo, who was suspended by President John Dramani Mahama on April 22 this year, is currently the subject of a five-member committee inquiry under Article 146(6)(10a), following multiple petitions. She expressed concern that such petitions may be politically motivated, aimed at pushing public officials to quit under pressure.
She further stated, “If these allegations are part of a coordinated plan to break me down and force my resignation, then those behind it aim to claim that the accusations were true simply because they went unchallenged.”
Justice Torkornoo made it clear that she would not abandon her role or duties because of political pressure or false accusations. She stressed that retreating under such conditions would not only invite unjust judgment but also strip her of all the achievements and rights she has earned throughout her career.
“Walking away now would mean surrendering to falsehood and sacrificing everything I’ve worked for. I refuse to let that happen,” she concluded.
Source: MyABCLive.com, originally reported by Graphiconline.com
