On Wednesday, June 7, Parliament approved Gertrude Torkornoo as the Chief Justice nominee following intense deliberations in the House. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had nominated Justice Torkornoo in April 2023. She is set to succeed Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who retired from the position on May 24.
During her vetting on Friday, May 26, Justice Torkornoo addressed various topics, including the perception that judges in Ghana act in favor of the appointing authorities. She refuted this perception, stating that the work of judges is dedicated to all Ghanaians and not influenced by the appointing authorities.
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In response to a question from Francis Xavier Sosu, a lawmaker from Madina, regarding the perception that judges, particularly those in the Supreme Court, do the bidding of the appointing authorities, she stated that it is an incorrect perception. Justice Torkornoo emphasized that the majority of their work concerns the ordinary citizens of Ghana and is unrelated to the appointing authorities.
She also expressed her intention to engage consistently with the Ghanaian community through the media to educate them about the process of adjudicating justice. This approach aims to dispel such perceptions and enhance transparency in the judicial system.
