The chief justice candidate, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, is scheduled to be vetted by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee May 26, 2023.
She was nominated by President Nana Ad Dankwa Akufo-Addo in April 2023.
The president stated that she was nominated to avoid a vacuum that would follow the resignation of current Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah on May 24.
Gertrude Torkornoo, who is from Central Winneba, will be the third female Chief Justice in Ghana’s history if her nomination is approved, following Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akufo.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had previously urged Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to expedite the approval of Justice Gertrude Turkournou to the post of Chief Justice. In a letter to the president, the president reiterated that it was to avoid a vacancy in the office of attorney general following the resignation of outgoing attorney general Judge Kwasi Anin Yeboah.
“It is my respectful hope that the approval by Parliament of Justice Torkornoo can proceed expeditiously to enable her assume office as soon as practicable following the retirement of Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah,” parts of the letter read.
