The Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency, Lawyer John Darko, has strongly criticized President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office, describing it as a “judicial coup clothed in flawed constitutional procedures”.
According to Darko, the removal has nothing to do with the law or judicial process, but rather a ploy by the president to control all levers of government.
He said this on the Kumasi based OTEC 102.9 FM’s afternoon political show Dwabrem on Tuesday
Speaking to the host, DOK Cash, after the removal, Darko said the allegations leveled against the Chief Justice, including her purported travels with family members and nomination of Supreme Court justices, were unfounded and lacked justification.
He believes the president’s action undermines Ghana’s democracy and gravely threatens the independence of the judiciary.
Darko pointed to comments made by NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah during the 2024 election campaign, where he vowed to remove both the Chief Justice and the Electoral Commission Chairperson if the party returned to power.
This, Darko argued, confirms that the removal is part of a grand agenda by the NDC to weaken independent institutions.
The Suame MP has called on traditional leaders, the clergy, the media, and all Ghanaians to condemn the decision, stressing that it sets back Ghana’s democratic gains.
He warned that Ghana now risks joining countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, where Chief Justices have been removed under politically charged circumstances.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng
