The Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association have jointly raised “serious concern” over the suspension of Ghana’s Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, warning the move risks undermining judicial independence.
In an August 14 statement, the groups emphasized that an impartial judiciary forms the bedrock of any rule-of-law society and noted Ghana’s historic commitment to Commonwealth principles.
“The existence of an independent judiciary is cardinal,” they declared, cautioning that executive actions perceived to compromise this independence demand scrutiny.
The statement highlighted Justice Torkornoo’s ongoing lawsuit at the ECOWAS Court of Justice challenging her April 22 suspension, which follows earlier domestic appeals citing procedural unfairness and constitutional violations.
Citing the Commonwealth Charter and Latimer House Principles, the bodies stressed that disciplinary proceedings against judges must guarantee fairness, transparent charges, legal representation, and review by an independent tribunal.
They echoed concerns previously voiced by the Ghana Bar Association and Commonwealth judicial groups, underscoring global unease over the suspension’s implications.
As Ghana navigates this constitutional tension, international eyes remain fixed on how Africa’s beacon of democracy balances executive authority with judicial autonomy. Will due process prevail?
