Afenyo-Markin is the Minority Leader in Parliament
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has raised concerns over what he describes as a manipulation of judicial independence, following the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, warning that such actions could jeopardise the integrity of future elections in Ghana.
According to the Member of Parliament for Effutu, the process leading to the former Chief Justice’s dismissal sets a “dangerous and unconstitutional precedent” that undermines the independence of key state institutions, including the Electoral Commission (EC).
“If this false and irregular process succeeds, it endangers every independent constitutional body. The Auditor-General, the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education, and even the Public Services Commission could be targeted next.
“This will destroy the safeguards of accountability and erase the principle of probity from our governance. If judicial independence can be manipulated in this manner, we should not expect free or credible elections in future,” he said.
The Minority Leader continued to state that; “Mr Speaker, the judiciary is the last line of defense for our democracy, and any act that undermines its independence strikes at the heart of our constitutional order. The Minority will resist any attempt to compromise the sanctity of the judiciary.”
Afenyo-Markin said this while speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
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The Minority Leader further argued that the judiciary serves as the final arbiter of electoral disputes and that any perception of executive interference in its affairs poses a direct threat to Ghana’s democratic foundations.
He accused the executive arm of government of compromising the Article 146 removal process, describing the events leading to Justice Torkornoo’s ouster as irregular and opaque.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the Pwamang Committee, which handled the petitions against the Chief Justice, only had one petition before it and had adjourned proceedings to September 15 for continuation.
However, without notifying any party involved, the committee reportedly submitted its final report on September 1, leading to the Chief Justice’s swift removal within two hours.
Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin urged Parliament and all Ghanaians to reflect on the implications of the Chief Justice’s removal, calling for a renewed commitment to fairness, equality and the rule of law.
The Chief Justice was removed on September 1, 2025, following the recommendation of an investigative committee established under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
AM/AE
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