President John Dramani Mahama has nominated seven Justices from the Court of Appeal for possible elevation to the Supreme Court of Ghana.
The nominations, officially announced in a letter signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama on April 29, 2025, were made under Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution, pending parliamentary approval.
The selected Justices are Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Senyo Dzamefe, Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, Philip Bright Mensah, Janapare Bartels-Kodwo, and Hafisata Amaleboba.
This move comes shortly after President Mahama suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, citing a prima facie case following multiple petitions for her removal.
A five-member committee has since been formed to investigate the claims, and Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie has been named Acting Chief Justice.
The decision has sparked significant backlash. Both the Minority in Parliament and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) have challenged the legality of the suspension.
At the GBA’s 2025 Mid-Year Conference in Accra, the association released a statement rejecting the President’s action, arguing it violates constitutional procedures.
“The suspension of the Chief Justice is not supported by any formal legal instrument, which sets a troubling precedent for judicial independence,” the GBA stated.
In addition to opposing the suspension, the GBA has called for the creation of clearer guidelines on how to handle petitions involving senior judges.
They say new rules are needed to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in cases that could lead to a judge’s removal.
Below is the full statement from the Office of the President
