Attorney-General Files a Motion to Dismiss Suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo’s Judicial Review Application

The Office of the Attorney-General has filed a motion at the High Court requesting that the judicial review application brought by suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo be struck out entirely.

Justice Torkornoo is contesting the proceedings of the Article 146 Committee, which is investigating several petitions seeking her removal from office.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, sworn by State Attorney Reginald Nii Odoi, the Attorney-General argues that the High Court does not have jurisdiction to consider the matter. According to the affidavit, the issues raised in Justice Torkornoo’s application have either been conclusively settled by the Supreme Court or remain pending before it, making the current action, in the AG’s view, procedurally improper.

Justice Torkornoo, who is at the centre of an impeachment inquiry under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, has consistently maintained that the process violates the principles of natural justice and due process. At a press briefing in Accra on June 25, she accused the committee handling her case of flouting basic rules of fair hearing.

However, the Attorney-General’s office insists that her legal challenge is fundamentally flawed. The affidavit argues that her application contains “a grave misstatement of capacity” and fails to name essential parties to the suit, rendering it legally incompetent.

“The proper course,” the AG contends, “is for this Honourable Court to exercise its jurisdiction to strike out the applicant’s originating motion for judicial review.”

The High Court is expected to set a date to hear the motion.