By Ghana’s political landscape is ablaze with controversy following President John Dramani Mahama’s suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on April 22, 2025. The decision, rooted in three petitions alleging corruption and misconduct, has ignited a fierce debate about judicial independence, executive overreach, and the fragile balance of democracy in the West African nation. While Mahama’s allies defend the move as a constitutional necessity, critics see it as a dangerous precedent that threatens the rule of law.
The suspension came after Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, determined a prima facie case against Torkornoo under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. A committee has been formed to investigate the allegations, with Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stepping in as Acting Chief Justice. The move has been praised by some as a bold step toward accountability in the judiciary, a cornerstone of Ghana’s democratic system.
Edudzi Tameklo, the Acting CEO of the National Petroleum Authority and a key figure in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), staunchly defended the president. Speaking on TV3’s New Day on April 23, Tameklo insisted that Mahama’s actions were strictly constitutional, accusing the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of politicizing a clear legal duty. “Has the president done anything outside the scope of the constitution? The answer is no,” he declared, framing the backlash as fear-driven rhetoric from a rattled opposition.
However, the NPP-led Minority in Parliament has fiercely condemned the suspension, branding it a “brazen judicial coup.” In a scathing statement, they accused Mahama of undermining judicial independence through a politically motivated witch-hunt. They draw parallels to the infamous 1963 removal of Chief Justice Sir Arku Korsah by President Kwame Nkrumah, a move widely criticized as executive overreach.
The Minority’s concerns are amplified by Mahama’s rocky first 120 days in office, which have been marred by mass public sector job terminations, allegations of political thuggery, and economic struggles like power outages and rising living costs. For many, the suspension of Torkornoo is another sign of Mahama’s alleged authoritarian tendencies, with some fearing the judiciary is being molded into a compliant arm of the executive.
Adding fuel to the fire, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development has called for urgent reforms to Article 146. While acknowledging the need for private proceedings, Prempeh argues that the lack of transparency—particularly the failure to disclose petition outcomes—erodes public trust in the judiciary. He proposes that retired jurists, not sitting judges, should handle such cases to avoid conflicts of interest, a suggestion that has gained traction amid growing calls for judicial reform.
As two additional petitions against Torkornoo surface, Ghana stands at a crossroads. Will Mahama’s actions be seen as a necessary reset for a beleaguered judiciary, or a reckless assault on democratic principles? With the investigation underway and public sentiment divided, the nation watches closely. One thing is clear: this judicial storm is far from over, and its ripples could shape Ghana’s democratic future for years to come.
