Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak has lashed out at the UK Bar Council and Commonwealth Lawyers Association over their call for the reinstatement of the suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following recent controversies surrounding her tenure.
According to Dr. Apaak, the request is not only misguided but also “nonsensical,” given that the matter is entirely a domestic issue that should be resolved within Ghana’s constitutional framework.
“Ghanaians will not tolerate such nonsensical colonialist-induced insults, disguised as demands, from you,” he fumed in an X post.
He stated that the UK Bar Council cannot order President John Dramani Mahama to immediately and without delay reinstate the Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo.
The outspoken Builsa South MP further stressed that foreign bodies should refrain from meddling in Ghana’s internal judicial processes, especially when their positions could be interpreted as interference in the nation’s sovereignty.
Earlier, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association raised serious concerns over the April 22, 2025, suspension of Torkornoo.
In a joint statement issued on August 14, 2025, the two legal bodies urged President John Dramani Mahama and the Executive arm of government to immediately reinstate Justice Gertrude, describing Ghana as a nation with a strong tradition of upholding the rule of law.
They further called on the government to ensure the Chief Justice is afforded due and fair process in the investigation of disciplinary matters brought against her, including full and transparent access to the proceedings by her legal representatives.
The groups also demanded the establishment of clear and transparent procedural rules to guide the disciplinary process, including a definite timeframe within which the investigative committee must conclude its work and communicate its decision.
But Dr. Apaak insisted that Chief Justice, the situation of Torkornoo must be subjected to Ghana’s constitutional and legal processes, without any undue influence or pressure from external organisations.
He argued that while international legal associations may issue statements or express opinions, calls for reinstatement or directives undermine Ghana’s democratic independence.
The UK Bar Council’s comments have sparked mixed reactions in Ghana’s legal and political circles, with some welcoming the international body’s stance as a show of support for judicial independence for Torkornoo while others, like Dr. Apaak, view it as overreach.
For now, the debate over Torkornoo’s future remains a hot political and legal topic, with no immediate resolution in sight.
