The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo’s application seeking a temporary halt to the committee investigating her removal from office.
The ruling, issued on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, also rejected a preliminary objection by the Government of Ghana, which argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
Torkonoo had approached the regional court after a committee, chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, was appointed to examine the circumstances surrounding her suspension and the subsequent swearing-in of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
While the ECOWAS Court acknowledged that Torkonoo presented a prima facie human rights claim, it found that she did not demonstrate urgency—an essential condition for granting a temporary suspension. The judges noted that although her suspension occurred on April 22, 2025, she waited three months before filing the request, undermining her claim of imminent or irreparable harm.
The court also dismissed Ghana’s Attorney General’s contention that the matter was sub judice due to related proceedings in Ghanaian courts. The judges clarified that the case concerns alleged human rights violations linked to her suspension and removal, rather than the review of domestic court decisions.
Consequently, Torkonoo’s bid to halt the probe was denied. However, the court confirmed that her main application is admissible and directed the Attorney General to submit a formal response.
