Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo has expressed serious concerns about the venue selected for her ongoing Article 146 removal proceedings, suggesting it carries dark historical symbolism intended to intimidate her.
Speaking in an address to the nation on Wednesday, Justice Torkornoo questioned the decision to hold her hearings at Adu Lodge, a facility located in a high-security zone on Castle Drive in Osu. She pointed out that this location is historically linked to one of the most tragic episodes in Ghana’s judicial history, the 1981 abduction and murder of three High Court judges and a retired military officer.
“I need to disclose at this point that the Adu Lodge facility that I am being tried in featured very prominently in the planning of the murder of judges on June 30, 1981,” she revealed. “Was Adu Lodge chosen for this inquiry to make me feel insecure? I think so.”
Justice Torkornoo also shared a deeply personal connection to the events of that period, disclosing that one of the murdered judges, Major Sam Acquah, was not only her uncle but also her legal guardian at the time of his abduction and murder. “I was also living with him at the time he was abducted and murdered,” she added, her voice filled with emotion.
The Chief Justice believes that the choice of venue, combined with what she described as secretive and irregular proceedings, was deliberately calculated to unsettle her. “The choice of venue, against the background of the secrecy of proceedings, was intended to intimidate me and to prevent any citizen of Ghana from knowing how the proceedings are being conducted,” she alleged.
Justice Torkornoo’s remarks have further intensified public debate over the fairness and transparency of the committee managing her removal process. She has already raised several complaints about breaches of natural justice and constitutional procedure, warning that the irregularities in her case could set a dangerous precedent.
“If this model of removal can be tried on the Chief Justice, it can be repeated with everyone. I am not countering these processes for myself, but on account of the leadership burden I carry,” she stressed.
The Adu Lodge location has long been associated with Ghana’s painful judicial history, particularly the PNDC-era killings that shook the nation’s conscience. By raising these concerns, Justice Torkornoo has spotlighted not only the symbolism of the venue but also broader issues about judicial independence and accountability in Ghana.
