The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unanimously dismissed the application filed by former Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo challenging her removal from office.
In a ruling delivered today, the regional court held that the Republic of Ghana did not violate Justice Torkornoo’s rights to a fair hearing, human dignity, access to information, or the right to work, as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The court rejected all reliefs sought by the former Chief Justice, including her demand for reinstatement as a Justice of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice, as well as her claim for $10 million in compensation for alleged moral and reputational harm.
Justice Torkornoo had petitioned the ECOWAS Court following her suspension and subsequent removal from office in 2025, arguing that the processes violated her fundamental human rights. The court’s decision brings to a close her regional legal challenge against the Ghanaian government’s actions.
Legal experts note that the unanimous ruling affirms the domestic processes used in her removal, which involved a fact-finding committee and parliamentary approval. The decision is expected to strengthen the government’s position on judicial accountability.
The ruling comes amid ongoing debates about judicial independence in Ghana, with political observers saying it closes a significant chapter in one of the country’s most high-profile constitutional cases in recent years.