The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has dismissed the Republic of Ghana's objection to the jurisdiction of the Court to hear the case filed by the former Chief Justice of Ghana, Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.

The ECOWAS Community Court in the delivery of its riling live on zoom today, the 19th day of November, 2025 ruled that Justice Torkornoo's case establishes a prima facie case of violation of human rights to fair hearing in Ghana’s Constitution and the Ecowas Protocols. The Ecowas Community Court therefore ruled, in a lucid voice, that the Court has jurisdiction to hear her case.

File Defense in 30 days

The Republic of Ghana during the delivery of the ruling of the Court ordered the Republic of Ghana to file a defense to the case of Chief Justice Torkornoo within 30 days. Ghana is yet to officially respond to the weighty claims of the Applicant-Chief Justice since the filing of her case some four months ago on the 4th day of July 2025. The Application of Her Ladyship at the ECOWAS Community court numbered ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25 can be read here

Provisional measures moot

The ECOWAS Community court per its ruling said it could not grant provisional measures to stop the removal of CJ Torkornoo because Ghana has already gone ahead to remove Justice Torkornoo from office.

The application for provisional measures was filed on 4 July 2025, three months after the suspension warrant, negating the urgency requirement for provisional measures. The application for provisional measures which is cast in the mold of interim or interlocutory orders pending the final determination of the case can be read here

Withdraw Application for Default Judgment

In the face of the orders of the Court for the filing of a defense, The Republic of Ghana sought to have Justice Torkornoo's application for default judgment withdrawn but Justice Torkornoo's lawyers prayed for the application to stand as the Republic of Ghana could still fail to file a defence despite the orders of the Court.