BY Grace Zigah
In a fiery statement that has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s legal and political circles, the suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, has accused the current government under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of deliberately subjecting her to an unfair, intimidating and potentially dangerous process designed to remove her from office.
Speaking publicly for the first time since her suspension, Chief Justice Torkornoo condemned the venue chosen for her disciplinary hearings — the Adu Lodge — describing it as a “murder zone,” a location associated with intense fear, secrecy, and political manipulation.
“If the aim is to threaten me into submission, I assure you, I will not cower,” she said boldly. “They chose a place with high security gates, closed to the public and legal observers — this is not justice. It is a staged ambush.”
A Judiciary Under Siege?
Chief Justice Torkornoo’s suspension followed multiple petitions filed against her, including those from businessman Daniel Ofori, an individual named Ayamga Akolgo, and an anonymous group calling itself “Shining Stars.”
These petitions accuse her of administrative misconduct, abuse of office, and partiality in judicial matters — charges she firmly denies and describes as baseless.
What has drawn national attention is her assertion that the entire process is politically motivated and orchestrated by forces within the current NDC-led administration to oust her and ultimately compromise the independence of Ghana’s Judiciary.
“These proceedings are a blueprint for injustice. I never thought I would witness this level of procedural lawlessness,” she remarked. “This is not about me. It is about the survival of judicial independence in our country.”
The Venue Controversy: Why Adu Lodge?
At the centre of her resistance is the location of the hearings.
The Chief Justice has questioned why a lodge — far removed from any official judicial premises — was chosen as the setting for such a significant inquiry into the head of the Judiciary.
Describing the Adu Lodge as a “murder zone,” she noted its isolation, its security-heavy setup, and the deliberate exclusion of transparency mechanisms such as media access or legal scrutiny.
“Justice is not served in the shadows. A place associated with fear and secrecy cannot be where a Chief Justice is tried,” she warned. “They want silence. They want fear. But I will speak.”
Unmasking the Petitions: Political Weaponization of Justice?
Chief Justice Torkornoo used the opportunity to break down the details of each petition, dismissing them as unfounded and politically coloured.
She revealed that many of the claims were already addressed in official responses, with documented evidence to back her position.
From allegations of misuse of travel benefits to accusations of bias in court administration, she argued that none met the constitutional threshold to justify her removal.
She further questioned the role of Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang in the proceedings, accusing him of a conflict of interest.
According to her, Justice Pwamang authored a judgment in favour of one of the petitioners, Daniel Ofori, in a case where she issued a dissenting opinion. Now, the same judge is chairing the committee meant to evaluate Ofori’s petition against her.
“It defies logic and law. A judge whose ruling favoured a petitioner is now presiding over the case to remove the dissenting judge? This is a dangerous precedent,” she stated.
Retirement Not an Option
Amid calls from close allies and members of the public urging her to resign for her own safety, the Chief Justice made it clear that stepping down is not only unacceptable but unconstitutional.
“Retirement while proceedings under Article 146 are ongoing is not an option. The Supreme Court has ruled on this already,” she said, referencing precedent from suit number J6/02/2019. “Resigning would mean surrendering to lies and losing all I’ve worked for.”
She expressed concern that giving in to pressure would validate the very system of manipulation she is fighting against, leaving all judges and heads of independent institutions vulnerable to similar takedowns.
National Danger: A Dark Turning Point
In perhaps her strongest warning yet, Justice Torkornoo declared that what is happening to her is not isolated — it is a signal of greater institutional decay that could affect every constitutional officer in the country.
“If the Chief Justice can be targeted like this, what happens to the rest of the Judiciary?” she asked. “We are on the brink of setting a precedent where fear, not law, governs justice.”
She concluded her address with a solemn reference to Pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous 1946 quote about the dangers of silence in the face of tyranny, reminding Ghanaians of the price of passivity.
