The Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Hassan Tampuli, has strongly criticized President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo from office.
Justice Torkornoo was dismissed on Monday, September 1, 2025, under Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution. A statement from the Presidency explained that the move followed a recommendation from a committee set up under Article 146(6) to investigate a petition filed by a citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori. The removal took immediate effect.
Speaking on The Point of View with Selorm Adonoo on Channel One TV, Tampuli described the grounds for her removal as unjust and politically motivated.
He particularly condemned the use of the Chief Justice’s spouse’s foreign travels and per diem allowances as part of the justification, calling it “highly ridiculous.”
“The fact that a Chief Justice’s spouse travelled with her and earned a per diem has now been added to what constitutes stated misbehaviour. Seriously, this is highly ridiculous,” Tampuli said.
He argued that top state officials, including the President, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, and Chief Justice, are all entitled to such benefits and questioned why Justice Torkornoo was treated differently.
“If you pay for the spouse of the Chief Justice, the President, Speaker of Parliament, and Vice President to travel on vacation, what is wrong with it? These are the people carrying the burden of the state. Why should others benefit, and this one cannot benefit?” he asked.
The Gushegu MP further accused the committee of acting unfairly to fulfill a predetermined agenda, cautioning that the decision sets “a very dangerous precedent.”
“I think the committee was set out to arbitrarily do the job they had been asked to do in an oppressive and unjust manner — to remove the Chief Justice. And that is a very dangerous precedent,” he warned.
Source: Adomonline
