Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine has formally opposed a motion for interlocutory injunction filed by Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, who is challenging the ongoing process for her removal from office.
The case, filed under Supreme Court Suit No. J8/113/2025 has gripped national attention, as it pits the country’s top judicial officer against key arms of government.
In the suit, the Chief Justice seeks to halt proceedings by an inquiry committee established by the President, arguing that the process violates her constitutional rights and undermines judicial independence.
Dr Ayine, who is named as the first respondent, filed an affidavit in opposition through State Attorney Reginald Nii Odoi.
He denied all substantive allegations raised by the Chief Justice, describing the motion as lacking merit and urging the court to dismiss it outright.
In the affidavit, the Attorney-General rejected the Chief Justice’s claims of bias, procedural irregularities and inhumane treatment.
He emphasised that the in-camera nature of the hearings is constitutionally mandated to preserve the dignity of the judiciary and to protect witnesses.
“The Applicant cannot waive the constitutional safeguards meant for the judiciary as a whole,” the affidavit stated, countering Justice Torkornoo’s assertions that she is being denied a fair trial.
Dr. Ayine also refuted claims that government-affiliated organisations leaked details of the removal process, instead attributing the publication of proceedings to the Chief Justice herself. He further argued that any dissatisfaction regarding the supply of official records from the Council of State should not be grounds for an injunction.
Significantly, the Attorney-General cited a Supreme Court ruling from May 21, 2025 (Centre for Citizenship Constitutional and Electoral Systems LBG v Attorney-General & 2 Others), to support his position, noting that similar claims had already been deemed insufficient for granting an injunction.
Justice Torkornoo, in her supplementary affidavit, described the inquiry process as a “mockery of justice,” alleging psychological harassment and discriminatory treatment during hearings held at the high-security Castle, Osu – an unusual venue for such proceedings.
She detailed restrictions such as invasive body searches, denial of electronic communication tools for her legal team and exclusion of her family members from the proceedings.
The Chief Justice claims these actions amount to degrading treatment not even meted out to treason suspects.
She also protested the committee’s refusal to recognize her legal counsel during an earlier sitting and alleged procedural violations, such as petitioners declining to testify in person.
The Chief Justice has asked the Supreme Court to intervene by halting the proceedings to protect her tenure and the integrity of the judiciary.
The Attorney-General, however, maintains that all steps taken by the President, Council of State, and inquiry committee are constitutionally sound and must proceed.
The Supreme Court is expected to set a date for hearing the injunction motion. Legal analysts consider the case a pivotal moment in Ghana’s democratic evolution, with potential implications for the separation of powers and the protection of judicial independence.
The post Torkornoo is not being denied a fair trial -AG appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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