Legal expert and former Ghana School of Law Director, Lawyer Ansah-Asare, has voiced his disappointment with suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo for publicly addressing the nation amid the ongoing investigation into petitions seeking her removal from office.
Justice Torkornoo, speaking on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, broke her silence since her suspension, expressing concerns about the manner in which her removal process is being handled. She claimed that the proceedings violate fundamental legal principles and warned that the process could undermine the integrity of Ghana’s judicial system.
“Every step of the removal process being undertaken against me is being done in a manner that breaks every rule on how justice is delivered in the country,” she stated during the national address.
In response, Lawyer Ansah-Asare criticized the Chief Justice’s decision to go public with her grievances, arguing that her actions could erode public confidence in the judiciary.
Speaking in an interview, he said:
“I’m very disappointed that the Chief Justice chose to publicly address the nation. That is something an ordinary lawyer like myself should do, not someone holding such a high office.”
According to Ansah-Asare, the Chief Justice’s public criticism sends the wrong message to Ghanaians—especially when coming from the very person who heads the judiciary.
“If even the Head of the Judiciary does not trust the justice delivery system of the country, how can the ordinary citizen have faith in it?” he questioned.
He emphasized that Justice Torkornoo should have used all internal and legal channels available before resorting to a public address. In his view, doing otherwise risks politicizing the judiciary and weakening the rule of law.