Sammy Gyamfi the acting Managing Director of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) has dropped more details to support his allegation of the suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkonoo blowing state funds on her family’s private trip.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, the suspended Chief Justice has confessed to using her official travel privileges on a private trip for the benefit of her husband and daughter in breach of the Travel Policy of the Judicial Service.
Sammy Gyamfi in an earlier interview on Asempa stated the suspended Chief Justice blew state funds on her family’s private trip.
He alleged that Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkonoo spent nearly GH₵260,000 on business class air tickets and approximately $30,000 in per diem allowances for her family during the trip.
Speaking on Asempa FM Sammy Gyamfi stated, “If you are a Chief Justice and you are going on a private trip, the policy mandates you to travel with only one person your bodyguard or security detail. That is the only person whose cost can be borne by the state. If the Chief Justice takes anyone else, she must fund the trip with her own money”.
The Chief Justice travelling abroad, took her husband, and her two daughters on her own private travels. In her own respond she asserted it was a private trip. She went along with her husband and daughter and carried taxpayers’ money of about 2.6 billion old cedis, for a business class ticket for a private travel for her vacation”, he added.
Sammy Gyamfi further added, “After paying for the tickets she also took taxpayers’ money and paid them per diem in dollars. How can anyone justify this? This is why all the Council of State members agree the issue should be looked into. She used public funds — the taxes of struggling Ghanaians — to finance a private family trip. Not even economy class, but business class tickets for her entire family. She even shared dollar per diems with them. That’s why the Council of State is unanimously calling for a thorough investigation into this matter”.
In a post on X, Sammy Gyamfi further released some documents to support his claims.
He stated, “ Suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo confesses to using her official travel privileges (air ticket and per diem) on a private trip for the benefit of her husband and daughter in breach of the Travel Policy of the Judicial Service. The travel Policy is very clear.
Paragraph B(2) of the policy, first adopted in 2010 and amended to take effect from 5th January, 2019, makes it clear that the Chief Justice can embark on private or personal travel with her “Security alone”.
The policy does not permit “opting to travel with a spouse and a daughter” at the expense of the State.”
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has since suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
According to the presidency communication signed by the Minister of Government Communication, John Mahama suspended the Chief Justice following a prima facie case being determined against her by the Council of State.
John Dramani Mahama has also set up a five-member Committee to probe petitions against Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo following her suspension.
See the post below:
Suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo confesses to using her official travel privileges (air ticket and per diem) on a private trip for the benefit of her husband and daughter in breach of the Travel Policy of the Judicial Service.
The travel Policy is very clear.… pic.twitter.com/S7KNQD38Gf
— Sammy Gyamfi (@SammyGyamfi_) April 23, 2025
