Justice Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornoo has been sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana. In a short ceremony at the Jubilee House, Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkornoo became the third female to head the judiciary in Ghana since independence. Also, the new Chief Justice became the third Chief Justice to be sworn-in by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
A breath of fresh air
Justice Torkornoo offers a breath of fresh air. Many civil society organizations had described the out-gone Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, as having been stingy with exercising soft hands regarding the progressiveness of justice delivery in the country. For them, his leadership brought about a tenure, where the Supreme Court simply ‘’refused to hear cases challenging the use of presidential power in multiple contexts’’ a statement by Bright Simons, Vice President at IMANI.
What the judiciary looked like
The judiciary was for a long time caught up in a lot of quagmire, including ‘bizarre’ allegations that bordered on the reputation of the immediate-past Chief Justice, the infamous ’Unanimous FC’, and a number of unsettling rulings, notably the ruling on the birth certificate as a proof of citizenship. Not to mention the recent issues concerning the working conditions of officers of the Judicial Service of Ghana.
What she said
In her response to a question on the issues of criminalizing homosexual activities, within the context of a bill in parliament, during her vetting, Justice Torkornoo reiterated that ‘when she goes to the court, all that she is focused on is the law’’. While this answer may not be a clear position to be taken on the matters of the LGBTQ in Ghana, especially when the bill is still in Parliament, her response sent cheers across the country as portrayed a person who will pay utmost fidelity to the law.
What Ghanaians hope for
Yes, many Ghanaians do not know the law, but where the law or any ruling of the Supreme Court does not ‘sit well’ with the ordinary man, it is safe to say that there is a need to take a second look at the law. The law is for the people, from the people. But more importantly, her response gives a glimmer of hope to the ordinary Ghanaian, because the general belief is that, when the law is properly followed, maybe a lot of the lawlessness, impunity, and recklessness of the elite would be held in check. And that is what Ghanaians sincerely hope for.
Lansah Harruna
ghanatalksradio.com
Lansah Lawrence 