I’m not confrontational; just frank to a fault – Supreme Court nominee

Nominee to the Supreme Court, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaba Torkornoo, has parried concerns that she is an uncompromising and confrontational judge on the bench.

According to her, contrary to claims, she simply happens to be very frank and says it as it is.

Justice Torkornoo offered to correct this impression when she appeared at the public hearing of the Vetting Committee of Parliament on Tuesday 10th December 2019.

The Court of Appeal Judge has been nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to serve on the bench of the Apex Court, the Supreme Court.

Chairman of the Committee, the 1st Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu, indicated the venerable Judge has been described in various cycles as very confrontational and uncompromising.

Justice Torkonoo, however, noted that she is perhaps frank to a fault because she is unable to dissociate herself from what is necessary to get the right thing done.

She stressed that the application of a little diligence will move the court processes very quickly and ease the burden for judges and appellants and therefore she cannot hold back against inadequacies.

According to her, members of the Vetting Committee had variously expressed concerns about delays in cases at the courts, which she is also averse to.

Therefore, as one of the few judges who are very insistent on case management, her posture is usually misinterpreted.