Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has disclosed that she has received threats aimed at forcing her to step down from office amid an ongoing inquiry into petitions seeking her removal. In an address to journalists in Accra, Justice Torkornoo revealed that some individuals have attempted to coerce her into resigning or retiring voluntarily by threatening her with personal harm.
Torkornoo also criticized the ongoing proceedings by the committee of inquiry, suggesting that the process is being handled more like adversarial courtroom litigation instead of a neutral fact-finding exercise. She expressed concerns about the manner in which evidence is being presented and indicated that the legal representatives for the petitioners are exercising undue control over the information shared before the committee.
The suspended Chief Justice firmly stated that she will not resign from her position despite facing an impeachment process initiated under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. She described the hearing process as unfair and alleged bias on the part of the committee tasked with investigating her. Torkornoo emphasized that resignation or retirement while Article 146 proceedings are ongoing is not only inappropriate but also legally impermissible, citing a Supreme Court decision on the matter.
Justice Torkornoo warned that walking away from the process could result in adverse outcomes for any public official facing such proceedings, including judgment being entered against them and loss of entitlements. She suggested that efforts may be underway to pressure her into stepping down, which would allow political actors to frame her departure as an admission of guilt.
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