Hundreds of opposition supporters flooded the streets of Accra on Monday in a sea of red and black, denouncing President John Mahama’s unprecedented suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and demanding her immediate reinstatement.
Members of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), flanked by supporters from three other political parties, marched through central Accra accusing President Mahama of violating the constitution by removing the Chief Justice without adhering to due process.
Gertrude Torkornoo, appointed by former President Nana Akufo-Addo just two years ago, was suspended last week after the president received three undisclosed petitions alleging misconduct. No specific details of the accusations have been made public, further inflaming tensions.
“This is not just about one person. This is about defending the independence of the judiciary,” said Nana Boakye Yiadom, the NPP’s national organizer, who led the protests. “What President Mahama has done is not only unconstitutional, it is dangerous for our democracy.”
Protesters carried placards reading “Hands off our courts” and “Justice under attack”, warning that Mahama’s move sets a precedent that could erode judicial independence.
Their outcry echoes concerns voiced last week by the Ghana Bar Association, which labeled the suspension unconstitutional and called for immediate reversal.
But not everyone agrees. A faction of the legal community and Mahama’s supporters defend the president’s decision, citing constitutional provisions that allow for the suspension or removal of public officers, including the Chief Justice, in cases of credible misconduct.
Still, critics argue that Mahama acted unilaterally without triggering the proper constitutional process, which includes a formal investigation by a judicial council or parliamentary committee.
“This is not about whether the president has power. It’s about whether he followed the law in exercising it,” said legal analyst Kwame Nyarko.
Public pressure is mounting, with calls for transparency and for the contents of the petitions to be disclosed. As tensions rise, Ghana’s fragile balance between executive power and judicial independence hangs in the balance.
A statement from the presidency is expected in the coming days.
