“Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has provided her preliminary response to President John Mahama in relation to petitions calling for her removal from office.”

This development comes as the 10-day period given to her to respond to the petitions expires today, Monday, April 7.

The petitions, which were submitted to the President earlier last month, have sparked significant national attention, leading to discussions on the legal and constitutional procedures for addressing such matters.

In a letter to the President last week, Justice Torkornoo requested copies of the petitions and asked for a minimum of seven days to prepare her response, ensuring compliance with due process and fairness.

Her response, which has now been formally submitted to both the President and the Council of State, is anticipated to be reviewed as part of the consultation process outlined in Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a lawsuit on April 9, filed by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah, which challenges the legality of the President initiating the removal process without prior notification to the Chief Justice.

The legal framework governing the removal of the Chief Justice is outlined in Article 146 of the Constitution.