I have received several threat messages warning me to resign – Suspended CJ Torkornoo reveals

Suspended Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo, has alleged that she has been subjected to threats and subtle warnings aimed at forcing her to resign or retire voluntarily amid ongoing efforts to remove her from office.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Justice Torkornoo disclosed that various individuals, including associates and members of the public, have pressured her to step down in light of the proceedings initiated for her removal.

“I have received threats and veiled threats suggesting that if I do not resign or voluntarily retire, I will be made to suffer some harm or other consequences,” she revealed.

The Chief Justice, however, made it clear that resignation is not an option she is considering. She explained that her stand is driven by a commitment to principle and the protection of judicial integrity rather than defiance.

“With nearly four decades in law and 21 years on the bench, I have always believed in upholding the rule of law. Resigning now would mean abandoning that belief and leaving troubling precedents unchallenged,” she said.

Justice Torkornoo further argued that under Ghana’s constitution, it is not legally permissible for a judge or public officer to resign or retire while proceedings under Article 146 are pending.

Her remarks come after President John Dramani Mahama suspended her following a prima facie case established on petitions calling for her removal. A five-member committee has been tasked to investigate the allegations.

Efforts by the Chief Justice to halt the work of the committee were unsuccessful, as the Supreme Court dismissed her request for an interlocutory injunction and struck out a related affidavit on grounds of breaching confidentiality provisions under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.