In a compelling open letter addressed to Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, Senyo Hosi, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors expressed deep concerns over the waning public trust in the country’s judiciary and called for the need for impartiality and integrity within Ghana’s judiciary.
Senyo Hosi’s letter, titled “OPEN LETTER TO HER LADYSHIP GERTRUDE TORKORNOO UNDO the WeKTO, SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY,” is a sharp critique of what he described as a deterioration in judicial independence and public trust in Ghana’s Supreme Court.
Emphasizing his stake in Ghana’s future, Senyo Hosi spoke on behalf of many Ghanaians, noting a growing disillusionment with the judiciary.
He expressed concern that the apex court, historically respected as the bastion of democratic principles and the rule of law, has become entangled in partisan influence, compromising its integrity and undermining public confidence in its decisions.
“As a people, our belief in a free, fair and just society after military experiments led us to adopt a constitution credited for our existing democracy and governance structures, including the Supreme Court.
“My Lady, the utility and beneficence of these institutions and structures depend on the extent to which they satisfy the ideals of justice, democracy and the rule of law. You should be worried if ‘we-the-people’, in whom sovereignty resides and, on whose behalf, justice is administered, no longer believe that the judicial system upholds these ideals”.
Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors
Judiciary Losing Public Trust
Citing Afrobarometer reports, the seasoned activist drew attention to a concerning decline in public trust in the judiciary.
According to him, in 2012, 56% of Ghanaians expressed confidence in the judiciary; by 2024, that figure had plunged to a mere 35%, adding that “I am petrified that today 65% of Ghanaians do not trust the judiciary at all whiles only 13% trust the judiciary ‘a lot’”.
This trend, according to Senyo Hosi, reflects a prevailing public sentiment that the judiciary may be yielding to executive influence.
“I am sure you have heard some of the most denigrating sobriquets deployed by some members of the general public to describe the once revered apex court, which you now head. From Unanimous FC to WeKTO Centre (We-Know-The-Outcome), the Ghanaian people continue to mock the predictable manner in which cases are determined by the apex court.
“In times past, such sobriquets would have been unthinkable. Sadly, this is the reality today. How did we get here? I believe you are aware that these pejorative descriptions of the court are hardly in isolation”.
Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors
Senyo Hosi further admonished Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for the lasting damage that this perceived predictability and partisanship could inflict on Ghana’s democratic foundation.
He pointed out that the judiciary, as a counter-majoritarian force, is integral to balancing the powers of the executive and the legislature, asserting that should public trust further erode the judiciary may lose its stabilizing influence, risking Ghana’s democratic values and institutions.
Concerns Over Recent Supreme Court Rulings
Moreover, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors expressed concerns over the recent Supreme Court ruling in Afenyo Markin v. The Speaker of Parliament as a case in point.
The ruling, he argued, sets a troubling precedent that casts doubt on the impartiality of Ghana’s highest judicial institution, the Supreme Court.
Senyo Hosi questioned the court’s assumption of jurisdiction in a case typically reserved for the High Court under Article 99 of the Ghanaian Constitution.
He noted the expedited manner in which the case was handled — with a panel of judges, including Chief Justice Torkornoo, convening within hours to issue a ruling on a matter that would normally take weeks or months.
“According to reports, within two hours of filing the application for a stay of execution, you empanelled busy Justices including yourself, on a day that the court hardly sits; to hear the application and deliver a ruling.
” I pray my seven (7) year defamation case receives the same attention going forward. It is for this reason that some have suggested that the court was ready and waiting for the motion to be filed”.
Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors
Such speed, he stated, stands in stark contrast to the court’s handling of other public interest cases, which he claimed have been sidelined or delayed.
He wondered aloud why the court would grant an interlocutory injunctive relief via an ex parte application, a move he described as a “radical departure” from established legal norms.
A Call for Judicial Neutrality and Integrity
In an impassionate call to action, Senyo Hosi urged the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo to undertake introspection and re-examine the court’s recent approach to politically sensitive cases, which, in his view, have raised legitimate questions over the court’s impartiality.
He acknowledged that, as Ghana’s judiciary wields an immense responsibility on behalf of over 30 million citizens, its mandate must reflect values of justice, fairness, and neutrality.
“The prevailing public view that the court’s registry rushes into action only when a case affects the executive is risky for our democracy, to say the least. Of the three arms of government, the Judiciary offers the best chance of stabilizing and furthering our democratic governance.
“Should ‘we-the-people’ further lose confidence in it, our democracy, governance and civility will become history- a trajectory that may be irreparable. For this reason, public perceptions of your work are just as important as the realities of it”.
Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors
He referenced an old Ghanaian saying, reminding the Chief Justice of her mandate to serve the people, suggesting that her leadership at the judiciary “has become the storm,” impacting Ghana’s democratic stability.
Senyo Hosi appealed to the Chief Justice, stressing that while the challenges are significant, it is not too late to pivot toward reinforcing the judiciary’s independence and credibility.
In a powerful closing, Senyo Hosi drew on Ghanaian cultural references, symbolizing his message with imagery from his life in British Accra and Adaklu-Tsriefe.
He expressed his hope for Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to embody fairness, justice, and truth during her tenure.
“As you run your race, And its end you face, May many make the case, That justice, fairness and truth were your days”, Senyo Hosi ended, urging Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to restore public trust in Ghana’s judiciary by prioritizing transparency and adherence to constitutional principles.
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