A fresh legal challenge has been mounted by a private citizen, Ebenezer Osei-Owusu, against the procedure being used in the ongoing process to remove the Chief Justice, Getrude Torkonoo.

According to the lawsuit, the current process is in breach of the Chief Justice’s right to a fair hearing.

The plaintiff noted that certain procedural steps being followed by the authorities do not align with due process, thereby undermining the independence of the judiciary.

It added that the prima facie case by the President of the Republic of Ghana in consultation with the Council of State on a petition for the removal of the Chief Justice cannot be made without first furnishing the Chief Justice with a copy or copies of the Petition(s) seeking her removal and to comment on them.

This latest legal action follows an earlier suit filed by a former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame on behalf of behalf of his client, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, also challenging the legitimacy of the removal proceedings. Both cases contend that the removal process is politically motivated and designed to weaken the judiciary’s autonomy.

He is seeking an order recalling or otherwise setting aside any petitions for the removal of CJ, forwarded by the President to the Council of State.

He's also seeking an order and directions that the court may consider appropriate for giving effect to the declaration and orders so made.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has set April 2, 2025, to hear the injunction application filed by New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Assafuah, against the procedure being used by the President to potentially remove the Chief Justice from office following the receipt of three petitions.

This decision comes shortly after the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, wrote a letter to the President and copied other stakeholders, demanding copies of the three petitions seeking her removal from office.

The CJ's request came shortly after the suit by the Old Tafo MP at the Supreme Court questioning the procedure being used to handle the petitions.

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