Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin
President John Dramani Mahama has come under heavy fire from the Minority in Parliament, following his decision to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament have called the action “tyranny” and a departure from good governance.
The suspension was imposed after a prima facie case was established in relation to three petitions demanding the Chief Justice’s removal from office.
The decision lays the groundwork for a formal investigation of Ghana’s top judge, which was made in accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and after consulting the Council of State.
In order to look into the issue, a five-member committee was established under Article 146(6).
The Minority characterized the suspension in a press release on Tuesday, April 22, as a politically driven witch hunt intended to control the court and engage in careless abuse of power.
The minority argued that the president’s decision is not a credible attempt to “reset” the judicial system and is not good governance.
The suspension, according to the Minority, is a part of a larger trend of political persecution and the abuse of official institutions to scare opponents.
“The decision by President John Dramani Mahama to suspend Her Ladyship Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo under the purported authority of Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, is nothing short of a brazen judicial coup, a reckless abuse of Executive power, and a direct assault on the independence of Ghana’s Judiciary.
“This move, taken while legitimate legal challenges are pending before the Supreme Court, reeks of intolerable political vendetta, Judicial intimidation, and a calculated attempt to pack the courts with NDC-sympathetic justices – as openly promised by President Mahama in Akosombo in 2023.”
The Minority demanded the immediate reinstatement of the Chief Justice pending the Supreme Court’s determination of the pending legal challenges.
“A halt to all removal proceedings until the judiciary has conclusively ruled on the constitutionality of the process.
“The integrity of Ghana’s judiciary is non-negotiable. We shall vigorously oppose any and all attempts to turn our courts into political tools.”
The Minority issued a warning that there would be strong public and legal opposition to any future attempts to harass, threaten, or forcibly remove the Chief Justice.
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