Subject: The Dismissal of Former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and the Disturbing Posture of Madam Sophia Akuffo
Your Excellency,
I write to you as a concerned Ghanaian and as someone who values the integrity of our institutions. Recent developments surrounding the dismissal of the former Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, and the subsequent public commentary by Madam Sophia Akuffo, herself a former Chief Justice, raise serious questions about credibility, accountability, and the future of our judiciary.
Her Ladyship Sophia Akuffo served this nation with distinction from June 2017 until her retirement in December 2019. She also remains a respected member of the Council of State, a body that occupies an essential role in shaping decisions of national importance, including the handling of petitions submitted to the Presidency. Yet it is precisely her current role that makes her recent public statements so deeply troubling.
In a widely circulated media interview, Madam Akuffo described the decision to recommend the removal of former Chief Justice Torkornoo as “trivial, petty, and unnecessary.” With respect, such remarks undermine the collective intelligence and integrity of the Council of State itself. They also cast doubt on her impartiality, given that she openly admitted to serving as a witness for the respondent in the very matter under review. The conflict of interest is glaring, and it erodes public confidence in both the Council of State and the judiciary.
Furthermore, her attempt to downplay the charges of misconduct, misbehaviour, and financial loss to the state is deeply disappointing. For a former head of the judiciary to describe breaches of per diem entitlements, irregular travel arrangements, and financial impropriety as “trivial” does not only trivialise the gravity of these accusations, but also signals to the public that the highest standards of accountability can be compromised. This position, if left unchecked, risks creating dangerous precedents that can weaken our democratic institutions.
The Council of State was never meant to be a divided house. Its strength lies in its unity and impartiality. How can that unity be preserved when one of its most prominent members publicly denigrates the decisions of her colleagues? Such behaviour is not only unbecoming, but it also risks undermining the credibility of the Council in the eyes of the Ghanaian people. If provisions exist for a vote of no confidence in members who compromise the work of the Council, I respectfully urge that such mechanisms be considered.
Your Excellency, you have rightly set out a resetting agenda that seeks to restore dignity, accountability, and performance to all arms of government. The judiciary is a cornerstone of our democracy, and it must be upheld to the highest possible standard. During the reign of the immediate past administration, public confidence in the judiciary declined to worrying levels, as confirmed by several local and international research bodies. Ghanaians are now yearning for a justice system that is transparent, impartial, and untainted by conflicts of interest.
I therefore appeal to you, Mr. President, to take a firm stance on this matter. The restoration of trust in our judiciary must begin with ensuring that those who occupy positions of public trust, particularly within advisory bodies like the Council of State, act in a manner that upholds integrity, impartiality, and respect for due process.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a national call to protect the very soul of our democracy. Ghana deserves institutions that inspire confidence, not doubt. Our people deserve leaders who uphold accountability, not undermine it.
Respectfully,
Mark Adjei-Kumi
Neighbourhood Engagement and Delivery Officer, Manchester City Council
Radio Presenter, Impact Sound Radio
Community Influencer, Church Worker, and Youth Mentor
