The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned what it describes as a deliberate politicization of the Chief Justice’s suspension by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), warning that such actions could irreparably damage her reputation and the judiciary’s independence.
In a sharp rebuke, the NDC’s Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, accused the NPP of dragging the Chief Justice into partisan debates while simultaneously attempting to frustrate President John Dramani Mahama’s constitutional obligations.
“They are further exposing the chief justice politically. And aligning her to a particular opinion or argument from a group of people which is not fair to herself.
“The way they are going, tomorrow, if people come out to say things that even borders on criminality as far as the chief justice is concerned, the NPP will be put to shame”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC’s Deputy General Secretary
Gbande called out what he described as the NPP’s dangerous attempt to align Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo with a particular political faction, stating that such conduct endangers not only the judiciary’s impartiality but also the safety of its leadership.
“I will tell my brothers, they should hasten slowly. The manner in which they are politicizing this whole matter would injure the chief justice herself”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC’s Deputy General Secretary
Gbande also took aim at the selective outrage displayed by the NPP and its affiliated commentators. He questioned why legal practitioners within the NDC were being condemned for discussing the issue while media personalities aligned with the NPP had faced no such criticism.
“Why is it that Agyapa Mercer is accusing Sammy Gyamfi and Edudzi Tamakloe for commenting on the matter when Paul Adom Otchere was the one who actually serialized the response of the chief justice and put it out there?”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC’s Deputy General Secretary
He accused the NPP of operating with blatant inconsistency and avoiding accountability for its own role in shaping the public narrative. “We in the NDC will not join that fray.”
Constitutional Manipulation
Gbande further rebuked the NPP for trying to shift attention from the substance of the petitions filed against the Chief Justice by introducing speculative and inflammatory claims.
He noted that the NPP’s accusations now extend beyond the judiciary to unfounded fears of President Mahama seeking a non-existent third term.
“It is no longer just that Justice Torkornoo was unfairly treated, but that they can see into the future that president Mahama would go for a third term and for that matter they are so scared”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC’s Deputy General Secretary
Speaking to the allegation that the president wants to go for a third term for which reason everything was part of the orchestrated plan, Gbande described the allegations as a destructive diversion, warning against turning legal processes into political tools.
“I mean, why have we been invited into this destructive conversation?” he asked in disapproval of the accusations.
Addressing suggestions that President Mahama should ignore the petitions filed against the Chief Justice, Gbande emphasized the danger of encouraging the head of state to abandon constitutional responsibility.
“They are inviting President Mahama to do a great injustice to the constitution of the Republic of Ghana. In fact, to actually subvert the constitution by not following through on the petitions against the Chief Justice”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC’s Deputy General Secretary
He criticized what he called hypocrisy in the NPP’s reaction to civic demonstrations and engagement, reminding the public of the party’s own mobilization efforts.
“A constitution that allows them on an early morning, to bring people from Winneba, bring people from Kumasi to come and demonstrate in Accra… but at the end of the day, the inconsistencies with which they have finished their demonstration is my trouble”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC’s Deputy General Secretary
Institutional Maturity
Gbande questioned the NPP’s selective approach to constitutional interpretation, suggesting that their actions imply pre-determined motives and anticipated political outcomes.
“Is it in the place of the NPP to determine constitutional interpretation? Or is it wrong for anybody to interpret the constitution? Or because the NPP is involved?”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC’s Deputy General Secretary
He warned that reducing legal scrutiny to party politics undermines Ghana’s constitutional framework and weakens democratic accountability.
“They already know that in the future, if we have to interpret our constitution, it means that there is some proprietary interest politically motivated by anybody such that they know what the outcome will be – so we should demonstrate from today”
Mustapha Gbande, NDC’s Deputy General Secretary
The NDC appears determined to defend the legitimacy of constitutional processes, warning that resistance to such procedures only serves to harm the very institutions the NPP claims to protect.
READ MORE: Government Considers ‘Multiple Lease Model’ for ECG’s Privatization
