AG Files Motion to Strike Out Justice Torkonoo's Judicial Review Application

Jul 1, 2025 - 21:36

Dr. Dominic Ayine is Ghana's Attorney General and Justice Minister.

Accra, Ghana - 1 July, 2025 - Ghana's Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine has filed a motion at the Human Rights Division of the High Court to strike out a judicial review application brought by the suspended Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo. The State argues that the application is defective due to a "grave misstatement of capacity" and the "non-inclusion of mandatory and essential parties," which affects the court's jurisdiction.

According to a sworn affidavit deposed by Reginald Nii Odoi, a State Attorney at the Office of the Attorney-General, the issues raised in the Chief Justice's application have either already been determined by the Supreme Court or are currently pending before it. The affidavit cites multiple ongoing or concluded cases, including Justice Gertrude Torkornoo v. Attorney-General & 5 Others and Theodore Kofi Atta-Quartey v. Attorney-General, as evidence that the Human Rights Court lacks jurisdiction in the matter.

The Attorney-General contends that allowing the Human Rights Court to proceed with the review application would amount to overstepping judicial boundaries and contravening established Supreme Court authority. The State is therefore asking the court to strike out the application in its entirety.

The affidavit includes references to several exhibits, comprising rulings and court documents from the cited cases. The Human Rights Court is expected to set a date for hearing the Attorney-General's motion in the coming days.