In an urgent bid to safeguard what they describe as the “last bastion” of Ghana’s democratic institutions, the Minority Caucus in Parliament has launched a public appeal to traditional and religious leaders, urging them to intervene in what they claim is a politically motivated attempt to remove the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office.
The Minority, led by its Legal Counsel and Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, convened an emergency press conference on Wednesday, April 16, to address what they see as a threat to judicial independence and constitutional order.
Citing unnamed sources, Mr. Darko claimed that recent petitions calling for the Chief Justice’s removal are “baseless” and lack the constitutional foundation required for such a consequential action.
“To our revered traditional leaders and religious leaders,” he urged, “the time to call the president to advise him is now, the time to pray for our country is now. We should not wait until it’s too late.”
This dramatic appeal follows reports that petitions have been lodged against Chief Justice Torkornoo—petitions the Minority describes as “frivolous” and “politically orchestrated.”
The MP for Suame was emphatic in his warning about the potential consequences of entertaining such petitions:
“How can any serious country, mindful of its past, and desirous of improving its democratic credentials, entertain such loose petitions and orchestrate the destruction of the last bastion of the pillars of our democracy?”
The appeal appears to be directed at President John Dramani Mahama, with the Minority urging him to disregard the petitions and uphold the sanctity of the judiciary.
This latest development comes against the backdrop of growing political tension over perceived encroachments on independent institutions.
Chief Justice Torkornoo, who assumed office with a reputation for integrity and legal acumen, now finds herself at the center of a brewing constitutional storm.
The specifics of the petitions against her remain unclear, but the Minority contends that they do not meet the threshold set out in Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution for the removal of a Chief Justice.
The Minority’s call to action has sparked fresh debate across the political spectrum, raising questions about the future of judicial independence and the role of traditional and religious institutions in moderating political tensions.
The Minority hopes their appeal will rally enough moral authority to deter any further action against the Chief Justice.
“This is not just about one individual,” Mr. Darko concluded. “It’s about the kind of democracy we want to preserve.”
–BY Daniel Bampoe
