Why there’s no timeline for committee probing suspended CJ — Felix Kwakye Explains

The five-member committee set up by President John Dramani Mahama to investigate three petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo from office has officially begun its work — but no specific time frame has been set for the completion of the probe.

Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, clarified that while there is no constitutionally imposed timeline for the inquiry, the committee is expected to act “within a reasonable time.”

“The constitution does not impose timelines and I believe that these are experienced people — we have two eminent jurists, very senior jurists who are on the Supreme Court bench — so [they] have capacity, in my view, to establish a process that is conducive enough for the Chief Justice to be given sufficient time and space to answer to the claims made against her in the petition,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu stated.

He further explained that President Mahama, in setting up the committee, did not impose any time limits on their work, as that would be outside the bounds of constitutional provisions.

“No such time limits were given. It is expected that they will act within a reasonable time because the president cannot do anything that is not prescribed by the constitution,” the Minister reiterated.

Background to the suspension

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, President Mahama suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office following the determination of a prima facie case in three separate petitions filed against her for “stated misbehaviour,” as stipulated under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.

A press statement released by the Presidency and signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed the development and outlined the membership of the investigative committee, constituted in accordance with Article 146(6) and in consultation with the Council of State.

The five-member committee

The committee is chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, a Justice of the Supreme Court who has served on the bench since 2015. Other members include:

• Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Supreme Court Judge appointed in 2022
• Mr. Daniel Yaw Domelevo, former Auditor-General
• Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo, Ghana Armed Forces
• Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor, University of Ghana

The committee’s mandate is to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations contained in the petitions and submit its findings and recommendations in line with constitutional procedures.