The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has chided the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) for demanding the reinstatement of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo during her suspension.

Comments on Torkornoo's removal breaches oath of secrecy – Atuguba jabs Sophia Akuffo

Speaking at the Ghana Bar Association Conference on Monday, September 15, 2025, Dr Ayine stated that the remarks and demands made by the GBA regarding Justice Torkornoo’s removal appeared to reflect the position of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He stated that three heads of constitutional bodies had been removed from office through Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, with committees that investigated the petitions following due process as outlined in the Constitution.

However, he noted that the GBA appeared to have spoken out only on the petition seeking the removal of Justice Torkornoo, which, in his view, reflected inconsistency on their part.

“… The honest question we have to ask ourselves is, what changed? The three aforementioned petitions concerned officeholders of three constitutional bodies critical to the sustenance of our democracy. The independence of the three institutions has been guaranteed by the Constitution.

“The three occupants were all women of significant repute and members of noble professions. The three committees established pursuant to Article 146 complied with the constitutional procedure to the letter; and yet, the bar found its voice only in relation to the third petition. Coincidentally, the voice of the bar amplified the voice of the opposition,” he said.

Dr Ayine referenced the cases of Loretta Lamptey, former CHRAJ Commissioner, as well as, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies at the Electoral Commission, to support his point about the apparent hypocrisy of the Association.

“When in 2015, an Article 146 petition was received by the Chief Justice in relation to the former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Madam Loretta Lamptey, the bar failed to speak out about the process. In the run up to 2016 elections, the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) engaged the Electoral Commission in court battles over the voter identification system. This gave rise to the Abu Ramadan line of cases. Immediately, upon assuming office in 2017, an Article 146 petition was filed for the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei and her deputies from office,” he stated.

Sacked Chief Justice Torkornoo heads to court

“The bar saw no basis to speak out about compliance with due process. Yet, in recent times, the bar found its voice when petitions based upon the same constitutionally defined procedures were brought in respect of the removal from office of the former Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Torkornoo,” he added.

MAG/VPO

Will Ghana pass the Anti-Witchcraft Bill? Find out in the latest episode of The Lowdown on GhanaWeb TV in this conversation with Amnesty International: