Processes were already in motion to get responses from the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, to three petitions seeking her removal from office, according to details of a letter from the presidency to the Chief Justice.

The President had received the petitions and forwarded them to the Council of State for consultations as required under Article 146(6) of the Constitution.

According to the President, in forwarding the petitions on March 24, the Chairman of the Council of State was duly notified to make available the petitions to the Chief Justice for her responses.

This explanation comes after the Chief Justice wrote a letter to the President on March 27, requesting access to the petitions to enable her to respond appropriately.

Before the Chief Justice's letter, a lawsuit had been filed by a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament challenging the procedure by which the president was handling the petitions.

The basis of the suit was that the Chief Justice ought to be heard and notified about the petitions before the President and the Council of State commenced any process. The hearing of that case has been set for April 2nd by the Supreme Court.

A letter dated Friday, March 28, and signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, revealed that on March 24, 2025, the President forwarded the petitions to Doe Adjaho, Chairman of the Council of State, as part of the constitutional consultation process required under Article 146(6).

“Following receipt of these petitions, on 24th March 2025, His Excellency wrote to the Chairman of the Council of State forwarding the petitions and informing Council that, in accordance with the consultation process required under Article 146(6), he intends, as an initial step, to send the petitions to you for your preliminary comments or response. On 27th March 2025, His Excellency received responses from the Chairman of the Council of State consenting to this request. Copies of these letters are also attached," an excerpt of the President’s letter to the Chief Justice read.

The petitions for her removal were submitted by three individuals on February 14 and March 17, 2025, alleging misconduct and abuse of power.

President John Mahama has now given the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo 10 days to submit a preliminary response to the three petitions demanding her removal from office.

• Read also: Mahama gives Chief Justice 10 days to respond to removal petitions

However, the President expressed disappointment that the Chief Justice's letter requesting the petitions was widely circulated online before it reached his desk.

"His Excellency, however, notes with disappointment that your letter of 27th March 2025 addressed to him was circulating on social media even before he could review its contents."

“The letter was reportedly shared as an attachment to another letter you wrote to the President of the Supreme Court, the President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges, and the President of the Ghana Bar Association."

• Read also: Mahama gives Chief Justice 10 days to respond to removal petitions

As a result of the leak, the Office of the President has decided to mark each page of the attached documents as ‘restricted’, reinforcing concerns about the confidentiality of official correspondence.