Ghana’s Attorney-General To Commonwealth: Judiciary Independence Is Protected

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) and the Bar Council of England and Wales (BCEW) jointly demanded on August 15, 2025, that Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo be reinstated immediately. Ghana’s Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has replied to this demand.

Dr. Dominic Ayine covered a number of important topics in the statement that was made public, including the legal and constitutional justifications that make it evident why the Chief Justice cannot be reinstated.

Dr. Dominic Ayine stressed that the Chief Justice’s suspension is entirely in line with Article 146 of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution, which outlines a clear, multi-step process that includes citizen petitions, advice from the Council of State, a prima facie determination, and the creation of an independent inquiry committee.

He chastised the BCEW and CLA for releasing their joint statement without fully understanding the case’s particular facts or Ghana’s constitutional system.

The inquiry committee’s purpose was to maintain the independence and integrity of the judiciary, the Attorney General reiterated. Even after receiving the committee’s report, the president is still subject to its recommendations and cannot take any action without consulting the committee.

To stop the investigation, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and her team have filed judicial review and injunction applications. Both the Supreme Court and the High Court have rejected these as being without merit.

Ghana is appropriately defending the case, which the CJ has elevated to the ECOWAS Court.

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The AG emphasized that the procedure reflects the Latimer House Commonwealth Principles and upholds democratic values, vehemently rejecting any idea that the government had acted outside its constitutional authority.

Up until the inquiry committee completes its work and submits its report, the suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo will remain in force.

In short, the Attorney-General categorically rejected external calls for reinstatement. He reaffirmed that Ghana’s actions are constitutionally sound, procedurally fair, and that the inquiry process must be completed before any further steps can be taken.