Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee in Parliament, has strongly condemned President John Dramani Mahama for the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo, characterizing the action as motivated by personal animosity rather than constitutional grounds.
In a statement on the social media platform X on Wednesday, April 23, Rev. Fordjour referred to the suspension as a ‘politically motivated act’ that jeopardizes the independence of the judiciary. The Chief Justice was suspended on Tuesday, April 22, following recommendations from the Council of State after several petitions were submitted requesting her removal.
However, Rev. Fordjour dismissed the reasons for her suspension as ‘unconvincing’ and ‘dangerous for the future of Ghana’s democracy.’ He remarked, ‘While you may not be the first President to be recorded in history for removing a Chief Justice based on personal dislike, this is certainly not a commendable precedent to set.’
He further accused President Mahama of attempting to ‘entrench political control over independent institutions,’ cautioning that such actions erode the principles of good governance and the rule of law. ‘The independence of the judiciary is essential to the integrity of our democratic endeavors,’ Fordjour emphasized, noting that the action seems aimed at replacing the Chief Justice with a politically aligned appointee.
The Member of Parliament called upon civil society organizations, religious leaders, the diplomatic community, and the general public to voice their opposition to what he characterized as a “malicious and harmful trajectory.”
Rev. Fordjour further associated the suspension with what he referred to as a wider trend of concerning behaviors during Mahama’s administration, which includes “unjust mass layoffs, aggressive political intimidation, persistent power shortages, and illegal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering.”
