The legal battle over the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has taken another dramatic turn, with Deputy Attorney
The legal battle over the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has taken another dramatic turn, with Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai revealing that the former head of Ghana’s Judiciary initiated no fewer than eight separate court actions in an effort to overturn the process that led to her dismissal.
According to the Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Torkornoo did not limit her challenge to Ghana’s apex court and the ECOWAS Court of Justice. Instead, she also filed three separate suits at the High Court, bringing the total number of legal proceedings instituted over her removal to eight.
Dr. Srem-Sai made the disclosure in a Facebook post on Saturday, June 27, 2026, shortly after the ECOWAS Court delivered its ruling on one aspect of the dispute. His comments provide fresh insight into the extensive legal campaign mounted by the former Chief Justice following her removal from office.
Eight Separate Legal Challenges
The Deputy Attorney-General explained that, in addition to the five cases filed before Ghana’s Supreme Court and the human rights case before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Torkornoo also instituted three different cases at the High Court challenging the legality of her removal.
“Quite apart from the five Supreme Court cases and the ECOWAS case, Her Ladyship filed three cases in the High Court to challenge her removal,” Dr. Srem-Sai wrote.
According to him, one of the three High Court cases was subsequently withdrawn by the former Chief Justice.
“Sometime last year, Her Ladyship abandoned one of the three cases,” he disclosed.
He further revealed that Justice Torkornoo has now applied to merge the remaining two High Court suits into a single proceeding.
“On Wednesday, June 24, Her Lady filed a motion to consolidate the two remaining cases. Da yie,” he added.
ECOWAS Ruling Sparks Fresh Debate
Dr. Srem-Sai’s remarks came in the wake of the ECOWAS Court’s decision to dismiss Justice Torkornoo’s application for provisional measures challenging her removal.
On June 24, 2026, the regional court unanimously rejected her request for interim relief after examining her claims that her constitutional and human rights had been violated during the removal process.
The ECOWAS Court ruled that although she had established a prima facie case raising possible human rights concerns, she failed to satisfy the urgency required for the grant of provisional measures because of the delay in bringing the application.
However, the regional court also rejected Ghana’s preliminary objection challenging its jurisdiction, meaning Justice Torkornoo’s substantive human rights case remains alive and will proceed to a full hearing.
Background
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s removal from office remains one of the most contentious constitutional developments in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Following petitions alleging misconduct and constitutional breaches, President John Dramani Mahama initiated the constitutional process for the removal of the Chief Justice. A committee was subsequently established to investigate the allegations before recommending her removal.
The process sharply divided public opinion.
Supporters of the government’s actions argued that the Constitution provides clear accountability mechanisms for all public office holders, including the Chief Justice.
Critics, however, contended that the proceedings undermined judicial independence and threatened the doctrine of separation of powers, describing the removal as an unprecedented attack on the autonomy of the Judiciary.
Legal Battle Continues on Multiple Fronts
The latest disclosures suggest that Justice Torkornoo has pursued an aggressive legal strategy by challenging different aspects of her removal before multiple judicial forums simultaneously.
Apart from proceedings before the Supreme Court and the High Court, she continues to pursue remedies before the ECOWAS Court, where she alleges violations of her fundamental human rights under regional legal instruments.
The move to consolidate the two remaining High Court cases appears aimed at streamlining the domestic litigation while several constitutional questions remain pending before Ghana’s superior courts.
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