There is no scheme to remove the suspended Chief Justice – Asiedu Nketiah
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has rejected rumors suggesting that the government is planning to oust suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
During an interview on Channel One TV on Tuesday, August 26, he asserted that the executive branch has not taken any such actions and is merely fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities.
“The executive has not done anything towards dismissing the Chief Justice,” he asserted.
“If anything, the executive is just adhering to the constitution. Thus, I believe the government has not sought to remove her in any manner.”
His statement comes amid increased public discussion regarding supposed conflicts between the judiciary and the executive branch.
Critics have alleged that recent political moves represent an assault on judicial independence, a claim that Nketiah staunchly denied.
“The judiciary is not being attacked. What we are witnessing is a process of reform. If there are issues within the judiciary, it needs to be revised to properly fulfill its constitutional role,” he clarified.
Nketiah emphasized that reforming institutions is essential for reinforcing democracy and highlighted the need for all branches of government to operate within the boundaries set by the constitution.
Background
On April 22, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo after a preliminary examination revealed three petitions alleging misconduct and inefficacy.
He then established a five-member investigative panel led by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang to look into the allegations.
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court, was appointed as Acting Chief Justice.
The suspension led to significant backlash. The Ghana Bar Association condemned the action as unconstitutional, arguing that Mahama did not publish the necessary constitutional document in accordance with Article 296.
The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) also criticized the decision, pointing out perceived political favoritism in the panel’s formation.
Chief Justice Torkornoo has chosen not to resign, labeling the process as “arbitrary” and “harsh,” while the NPP cautioned that the suspension poses a threat to Ghana’s democratic principles.
