President Akufo-Addo Proposes Justice Torkornoo As Next CJ

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo has nominated Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo as the country’s next Chief Justice after soon-to-retire Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah.

This was contained in a letter to the Chairperson of the Council of State, Nana Otuo Siriboe II on April 25, 2023.

In the letter, the President urged the Council to expedite action on the nomination to make way for Parliament’s role and her swearing-in in time.

Justice Anin Yeboah will retire on May 24 and President Akufo-Addo wants Justice Torkornoo ready to occupy the position upon his exit.

“In order to avoid a vacuum and ensure that a new chief justice is immediately in office after his retirement,” part of the letter explained.

The letter to the Council of State is in accordance with Article 144 (1) of the Constitution which states that “the Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President acting in consultation with the Council of State and with the approval of Parliament”.

If approved, she would be the third female Chief Justice in the country’s history after Justices Georgina Theodora Wood (2007-2017) and Sophia Akuffo in (2017-2020).

She has been a member of the Judiciary for the past 19 years and has been a Supreme Court judge for the past four years.

According to President Akufo-Addo, she is “fit” for the role of Chief Justice.