President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has been sharply condemned by the minority in Ghana’s parliament, which calls it a “brazen judicial coup” and a careless misuse of executive power.
The Minority Caucus accused the President of attempting to manipulate Ghana’s courts for partisan gain, undermining the judiciary’s independence, and violating constitutional principles in a strongly worded statement issued from Parliament House in Accra.
“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.”
Minority Caucus in Parliament
The move, according to the Minority, coincides with ongoing legal challenges before the Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of the procedure being used to target the Chief Justice.
The suspension was criticized by the Minority as an unprecedented Executive intrusion into the Judiciary and a flagrant disregard for due process.
They argued that President Mahama’s action amounts to a risky overreach and creates a risky precedent for Ghana’s democratic governance.
“This is judicial overreach of the highest order. It is a textbook case of executive interference and a dangerous precedent reminiscent of the dark days when President Kwame Nkrumah removed Chief Justice Sir Arku Korsah in 1963 for judicial decisions the President disliked.”
Minority Caucus in Parliament
The group emphasized that the President’s action is unlawful and politically motivated in addition to being premature given the unanswered constitutional questions before the highest court.
They claim that the suspension violates the independence and sanctity of the judiciary and are calling for its immediate reversal.
A Politically Calculated Witch-Hunt
According to the Minority, this action validates long-standing concerns regarding President Mahama’s plans to sway the judiciary in favor of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Minority claims that the suspension of the Chief Justice is about consolidating power rather than accountability, citing the President’s 2023 public statement in Akosombo in which he allegedly promised to “balance the judiciary” by selecting judges with an NDC leaning.
“This is neither good governance nor a credible attempt to reset the judicial system—it is tyranny. If the President believes he can strong-arm the judiciary into submission, he must be reminded that Ghana is a constitutional democracy, not a personal fiefdom.”
Minority Caucus in Parliament
A Caution Against Further Executive Interference
The Minority declared its intention to oppose any future attempts to meddle in the judiciary through legal and public channels, sending a clear message to the Mahama administration.
They urged the legal community, civil society, and democratic defenders to support judicial independence and vowed to oppose any attempt to “pack the judiciary with politically compliant judges.”
“We will not stand idly by while the judiciary is turned into an appendage of the Executive,” the statement emphasised. In reaction to the developing constitutional crisis, the Minority made two main demands.
First, they demanded that Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo be reinstated right away pending a decision from the Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of the removal procedure.
Second, the group demanded that all removal proceedings against the Chief Justice be immediately halted while judicial review procedures were completed.
The Minority reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining democratic governance, claiming that the judiciary’s integrity is “non-negotiable” and needs to be safeguarded at all costs.
The Minority’s statement is a call to action for all parties involved in Ghana’s democracy, not just those in parliament.
They called on the public, professional associations, religious organizations, and civil society organizations to unite in opposing what they perceive to be an attack on the nation’s democratic underpinnings.
