Removal Saga Continues! ECOWAS Court Refuses to Stop Pwamang Committee’s Work
Former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo’s request for interim restriction orders to stop the work of the committee that looked into her dismissal from office was denied by the ECOWAS Court of Justice. A preliminary objection by the Ghanaian government, claiming that the regional court lacked authority to hear the case, was also dismissed by the court. After the President established a committee headed by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang to look into issues, Justice Torkonoo filed an application. This ultimately resulted in her dismissal and the swearing-in of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as her replacement. The former Chief Justice had established a prima facie case alleging human rights violations, but she did not show the urgency necessary for the Court to issue temporary orders stopping the committee’s proceedings, the ECOWAS Court ruled on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. The courts observed that she waited three months before bringing her application, undercutting her own allegations of impending or irreparable damage, even though she was suspended on April 22, 2025, and was well aware of the continuing procedures. Consequently, the application for a ban order was denied. The Attorney General of Ghana filed a supplementary objection, arguing that the topic was sub judice since a Ghanaian court was considering relevant concerns. The Court also considered this objection. According to the ruling, the application before the regional court concerns alleged violations of Justice Torkonoo’s human rights during the suspension and removal process and does not seek to review or overturn any decision of a Ghanaian court. The ECOWAS Court disagreed, calling the objection “misplaced.” The court further made it clear that the sub judice concept does not apply just because two instances have comparable circumstances; rather, it only applies when a subject is pending decision elsewhere.
