The Minority in Parliament has strongly condemned President John Dramani Mahama’s suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo, calling it a “brazen judicial coup” and an alarming misuse of executive authority.
In a statement released on Monday, April 22, 2025, the Minority accused the President of pursuing political revenge and undermining judicial independence—especially as the legality of the removal process remains under review by the Supreme Court.
“This move constitutes nothing less than a brazen judicial coup, a reckless abuse of power, and a direct attack on the independence of Ghana’s Judiciary,” the statement read.
The Minority argued that suspending the Chief Justice under such conditions violates due process and represents an unconstitutional overreach by the Executive.
Drawing a historical parallel, the statement likened the action to the controversial 1963 removal of Chief Justice Sir Arku Korsah by President Kwame Nkrumah—a decision long criticized for undermining the judiciary.
“It is an indefensible affront to the rule of law for the President to suspend the Chief Justice while the Supreme Court has yet to rule on the constitutionality of the proceedings against her,” the group stated.
The Minority further alleged that the suspension is politically driven, pointing to President Mahama’s 2023 comments in Akosombo, where he reportedly vowed to “balance” the judiciary with judges aligned with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“This is not a quest for accountability; it is a raw display of political dominance. It does not reflect good governance, nor is it a legitimate judicial reform—it is authoritarianism,” the statement continued.
Vowing resistance, the Minority warned the Mahama administration against further attempts to intimidate or remove the Chief Justice unlawfully.
“Any additional efforts to harass, coerce, or illegally oust the Chief Justice will be met with resolute legal and civic opposition. The legal community, civil society, and all defenders of democracy will not sit back as the judiciary is reduced to a tool of executive power.”
The Minority concluded by demanding the immediate reinstatement of Chief Justice Torkornoo and a halt to all removal proceedings until the Supreme Court delivers its judgment.
Source: Thepressradio.com
