The President of IMANI Africa Franklin Cudjoe, has reacted to the Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo’s media briefing yesterday, 25 June 2025.
Franklin Cudjoe, sarcastically stated that the Chief Justice’s refusal to resign or retire is due to the allure of Article 71 benefits.
In a post on his social media page on X, Franklin Cudjoe stated, “The allure of Article 71 benefits…. resign for where?”.
His comment comes on the back of the suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, who has boldly stated that resigning is not an option.
According to Chief Justice Torkornoo, every step of the removal process being undertaken against me is being done in a manner that breaks every rule on how justice is delivered in the country.
Speaking to the media on 25 June, 2025, Torkornoo stated, “Let me assure everybody that I do not seek to cling to a title or position. However, as a lawyer of 38 years standing, a Judge of 21 years standing, and Chief Justice of Ghana who has served in the rule of law all of my working life, I consider it my onerous duty and obligation to speak up concerning the administration of justice in this country.
The situation I have been confronted with has shown me a model of injustice that I would never have thought possible if I had not been exposed to it. This is why, despite great personal discomfort, I have decided to marshal every effort, in law and leadership, to answer to this situation.
Furthermore, resigning or retiring while Article 146 proceedings are being conducted to remove a Judge is not an option any Judge or public official is even allowed to have. There is a decided case on the subject by the Supreme Court. The suit number is J6/02/2019”.
She added, “Again, no one has the authority to walk away from proceedings started by the State. Judgment can be entered against you because you failed to defend yourself. And a Judge who resigns or retires would still lose all entitlements because they failed to defend the claims and resigned or retired while the proceedings were going on.
Therefore, if false claims are made against a Judge or any Commissioner or other public office holder subject to article 146 proceedings, just to achieve a political agenda, the solution cannot be to resign or voluntarily retire out of frustration, pressure or fear.
One would only find themselves being subjected to two cruelties – a judgment based on false claims, and loss of everything that one has worked for”.
See the post below:
The allure of Article 71 benefits…. resign for where?
— Franklin CUDJOE (@lordcudjoe) June 26, 2025
