Speaker Formally Informed About Justice Torkornoo Nomination

The President of Ghana has officially written to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kigsford Bagbin about the nomination of Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo as the country’s next Chief Justice after soon-to-retire Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah.

According to the letter, her nomination has been approved by the Council of State in accordance with the constitution.

“The Council of State has notified me by the letter under the hand of its chairperson, dated April 28th, 2022 of the successful completion of consultation process,” President Akufo-Addo wrote.

In the letter intercepted by the Parliamentary Correspondent of Opemsuo Radio dated May 2 and addressed to the Speaker, the President tried reasoning with the Country’s third in command to have the nominee approved in time.

“Mr Speaker, it is my respectful hope that the approval by Parliament of Justice Torkornoo will proceed expeditiously to enable her assume office as soon as practicable following the retirement of Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah,” a part of the letter read.

This 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 (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.