Kofi Bentil says President Mahama cannot appoint a new Chief Justice until lawsuits challenging Gertrude Torkornoo’s dismissal are resolved.
Background
After the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, IMANI Africa Vice President and private legal practitioner, Kofi Bentil, has argued that President John Dramani Mahama cannot appoint a new Chief Justice at this time.
According to him, the president’s hands are tied until the outcome of four ongoing lawsuits challenging Justice Torkornoo’s dismissal is determined.
Legal Concerns Raised
Bentil stressed that any attempt by the president to appoint a new Chief Justice while the cases are still before the courts would be unlawful.
“I have heard people saying that there should be a new appointment of a CJ (Chief Justice) … It is wrong. When you have legal processes ongoing, the parties must all be heard. You can’t break the law in trying to fulfil the law,” he said during an interview with TV3 on September 19, 2025.
He emphasized that the president must respect due process, and urged citizens to demand adherence to the rule of law.
Support for Gertrude Torkornoo
The IMANI Africa vice president further expressed support for Justice Torkornoo’s legal challenge against her removal. He argued that if she succeeds in court, she could be reinstated as Chief Justice.
“It is important to know that she is attacking procedure,” Bentil explained, adding that Torkornoo has the right to exhaust every legal option available to contest her dismissal.
Implications
The ongoing lawsuits mean Ghana’s judiciary could face a leadership vacuum until the cases are resolved. Legal experts believe the outcome will set a precedent for how judicial dismissals and appointments are handled in the future.
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