Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Ghana’s suspended Chief Justice, has intensified her legal battle by bringing a case against the Ghanaian government at the ECOWAS Court of Justice, where she is seeking $10 million in damages.
In her suit, Justice Torkornoo is seeking redress for what she describes as severe “moral and reputational harm” caused by her suspension from the nation’s highest judicial office.
Her attorneys contend that the action against her violated her fundamental rights, damaged public trust in Ghana’s judiciary, and severely damaged her reputation.
The petition alleges that the government violated due process when it suspended her, and it implies that the action was motivated more by politics than by constitutional law.
She is requesting that the state be held responsible by the regional court for what she calls a legally faulty and politically driven process.
“The damage done to her personal integrity and the sanctity of judicial independence is immeasurable,” her lawyers argue in court fillings.
A story that has already sparked national indignation and polarized public opinion has taken a drastic turn with Justice Torkornoo’s case.
Her determination to confront what she perceives to be an unconstitutional misuse of power is demonstrated by her decision to pursue justice outside of Ghana.
The Ghanaian government has not yet formally addressed the lawsuit in front of the ECOWAS Court.
The case calls into question Ghana’s constitutional governance, judicial independence, and overall level of democratic accountability—matters that are currently within the purview of a regional tribunal.
