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Thechief justice of Ghana is the highest-ranking judge of theSupreme Court of Ghana. The chief justice is also the head of theJudiciary of Ghana and is responsible for its administration and supervision.^[1] In order of state precedence, the chief justice is the fourth highest official inGhana.^[2]

The Supreme Court Ordinance of 1876 ended the 10-year absence of aSupreme Court, establishing a Supreme Court of Judicature for theGold Coast Colony. The court consisted of the chief justice and not more than fourpuisnejudges.^[3] This led to the appointment of the first chief justice, SirDavid Patrick Chalmers by theBritish colonial authorities in 1876. The nature of the office of chief justice evolved with the years. The 1954 Gold Coast constitution provided for the chief justice to be appointed on the advice of the prime minister while other judges and judicial officers were appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.^[4] Under the 1957 Ghana constitution, on the attainment of independence, the chief justice and all superior justices were appointed on the advice of the prime minister as the Judicial Service Commission was abolished.^[5] SirKobina Arku Korsah became the first Ghanaian chief justice.^[6] Under the 1969 constitution, the chief justice was appointed by the president acting in consultation with the Council of State.^[7] The office has not changed much since the 1979 constitution though the court system underwent a lot of changes under various military governments between 1972 and 1993.^[8]

The chief justice is appointed by thepresident of Ghana in consultation with theCouncil of State of Ghana and with the approval of theParliament of Ghana.^[9] A person qualified to be the chief justice of Ghana must be of a high moral character and have proven integrity and must have been a lawyer for at least fifteen years to have been eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court in the first place.^[10] Where the office of the chief justice is vacant or the chief justice is incapacitated and unable to carry out his duties, the most senior of the justices of the Supreme Court is expected to act in his place until he is able to resume or a new substantive chief justice is appointed by the president.^[11] The chief justice and any other justice of the superior courts may voluntarily retire on reaching the age of 60 years^[12] or stay on till the compulsory retiring age of 70 years.^[13]

The Supreme Court consists of the chief justice and at least nine other judges. The chief justice is expected to preside at all sittings of the Supreme Court whenever present.^[14] The chief justice is the most senior member and oversees the administration of theCourt of Appeal.^[15] The chief justice is also a member and administrator of theHigh Court^[16] and the Regional Tribunals.^[17]

The chief justice is the chairman of theJudicial Council of Ghana. The council is expected to propose judicial reforms to the Ghana government to help improve the level of administration of justice and efficiency in the Judiciary. It is also expected to be a forum to enhance the administration of justice in Ghana.^[18]

• Administer the presidential oath and the vice presidential oaths before parliament prior to both assuming their offices.^[19]
• Administer the oath of allegiance and the judicial oath to all justices of the superior courts or designate someone to act in his stead.^[20]
• Chairman of the Rules of Court Committee which makes rules regulating the practice and procedure of all courts in Ghana.^[21]
• To set up a tribunal to resolve grievances against the Electoral Commission of Ghana.^[22]
• Convene and chair a tribunal to oversee proceedings relating to the removal of thepresident of Ghana from office.^[23]
• Appoint judicial officers on the advice of the Judicial Council and subject to the approval of the president.^[24]

The current chief justice isGertrude Torkornoo. She succeededKwasi Anin-Yeboah as the 15th Chief Justice of Ghana and the third female to hold this position in the history of Ghana. Torkornoo was sworn in as Chief Justice by PresidentAkufo-Addo on 12 June 2023.^[25][26]

On 22 April 2025, following the receipt of three petitions for the removal of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkenoo, PresidentJohn Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State suspended her from office as provided for by Article 146 of the 1992 constitution.^[27] A five member committee was set up to review the petition in line with constitutional provisions.^[28] In view of this, the most senior judge on the Supreme Court,Paul Baffoe-Bonnie will act as Chief Justice until resolution of the issue.^[29] The reviewing committee includes two Supreme Court Justices,Gabriel Pwamang, the next most senior judge after Baffoe-Bonnie andSamuel Adibu Asiedu.^[28] This generated controversy as the opposition cried foul-play while a government official reminded everyone that nothing had been proven against Torkenoo and that the constiutional provisions were being adhered to.^[30]

• 1853–?1854 James Coleman Fitzpatrick^[31]
• 1854–1857 Henry Connor^[32]
• 1861–1866William Hackett (acting 1861–1863)^[33]
• 1868 William Alexander Parker

Since its inception in 1876, the Supreme Court has had 27 chief justices, including 13 in the Gold Coast era.^[34][35]

JusticeFrancis Yaonasu Kpegah, who was at the time the most senior of the Supreme Court judges acted as Chief Justice between March 2007 and June 2007.^[11]

• Judiciary of Ghana
• Supreme Court of Ghana
• List of judges of the Supreme Court of Ghana

• List of Judges of the Superior Court of Judicature
• Chapter 11 of the 1992 Ghana constitution:The Judiciary

• Chief justices of Ghana
• Judiciary of Ghana

• CS1: long volume value
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata