The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has reiterated its call for a review of the decision to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, a move made during the 43rd commemoration of Martyrs’ Day on June 30, 2025.
This solemn event honors the memory of three High Court judges, Justices Frederick Opoku Sarkodie, Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, and Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong, who were abducted and murdered on the same date in 1982. Their killing, widely regarded as a politically motivated and senseless act of violence, serves as a stark reminder of the judiciary’s vulnerability to external interference.
Speaking at the ceremony, GBA President Effua Ghartey voiced deep concern over the implications of Torkornoo’s suspension, which was enacted earlier in 2025 following undisclosed petitions. She warned that the action could establish a dangerous precedent, potentially undermining the independence and integrity of Ghana’s judicial system.
Ghana Bar Association Urges Review of Chief Justice Suspension Amid Martyrs’ Day Commemoration
The National President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, has called for a review of the suspension of Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo as Chief Justice, describing it as a development that sets a troubling precedent for the country.#TV3GH #3NewsGH pic.twitter.com/W3byONEYIh
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) June 30, 2025
The timing of the appeal, coinciding with Martyrs’ Day, underscores the association’s intent to draw parallels between historical judicial threats and the current situation. Ghartey emphasized the urgent need for a reconsideration of the suspension, urging stakeholders to safeguard the judiciary from what she described as undue pressure.
The GBA’s stance reflects broader concerns about the process’s legality and its impact on public trust, especially given the ongoing investigation into the petitions against Torkornoo. As debates continue, this call for review highlights the delicate balance between accountability and judicial autonomy in Ghana.
