Chief Justice dismisses allegations of financial misconduct detailed in one of the removal petitions

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has refuted claims of financial wrongdoing leveled against her in a recent petition submitted to President John Mahama.

The petition, filed by a private citizen named Daniel Ofori, accuses her of misappropriating over GHS261,000 in public funds during official and personal travel in 2023.

Mr Ofori alleges that the Chief Justice used state funds to sponsor foreign trips involving her husband, Francis Kofi Torkornoo, and daughter, Miss Edem S.A. Torkornoo.

He also questioned an additional GHS 75,580 used for a trip to Tanzania, and claimed she failed to account for a $14,000 imprest meant for the same journey.

In her formal response to the presidency, Chief Justice Torkornoo rejected the allegations, describing them as “unfortunate untruths” and attributing them to a fundamental misinterpretation of Judicial Service policies.

She referenced internal protocols dating back to 2010—updated in 2019—that authorize the Chief Justice to travel with either a spouse or a designated companion, even on holiday.

Quoting directly from the Judicial Service travel policy, she noted: “The Chief Justice shall undertake unlimited official travels with either his/her Spouse or other person of his/her choice in a year, fully funded by the Judicial Service.” The same policy also allows the travel companion to fly in the same class and benefit from a partially covered per diem.

“In view of this option, there was no infraction occasioned when I opted to travel for my two holidays with my spouse on one occasion and my daughter on the second occasion,” she clarified.

Addressing the imprest of $14,000, the Chief Justice explained that only $4,411 was spent during the trip and that the remaining $9,588.20 was refunded two days after she resumed work, with evidence provided.

“I spent an amount of $4,411 out of the said imprest and retired the remaining $9,588.20,” she stated.

With regard to her travel to Arusha, Tanzania, Justice Torkornoo explained that illness cut the trip short, prompting her to return to Ghana early to attend the Ghana Bar Association conference in Cape Coast.

“I fell ill from exhaustion when I arrived in Arusha and had to return to Ghana a day early,” she said.

She also emphasized that she does not have control over the financial logistics of her travels.

“As Chief Justice, I neither purchase travel tickets, nor determine the per diem issued to me… I am not signatory to any account and do not have access to the accounts of the Judicial Service,” she said.

Describing the petition as fundamentally flawed, the Chief Justice asserted it stemmed from a lack of understanding of the Judicial Service’s procedures and internal records.

“It is therefore unfortunate that the Petitioner… should create the wrong presentation of this expenditure,” she concluded.

Read More