President Mahama’s Removal of Chief Justice Sparks Constitutional Crisis
President Mahama's Removal of Chief Justice Sparks Constitutional Crisis
President Mahama’s Removal of Chief Justice Sparks Constitutional Crisis
Vincent Asafuah Old Tafo Mp, member of Parliament, said, the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo by President John Dramani Mahama has sparked a constitutional crisis in Ghana, with many critics accusing the President of undermining the independence of the judiciary. Elizabeth Ohene, a former Minister of State, has described the move as a “betrayal of democratic values” and a threat to the country’s constitutionalism.
According to Elizabeth Ohene, the process used to remove the Chief Justice was “unconstitutional” and “shameful,” with the President’s actions seen as a fulfillment of a promise made by the NDC. She noted that the party’s history of hostility towards the judiciary is not new, citing the party’s actions in 2008 when they engineered petitions against Chief Justice George Wood.
The removal of the Chief Justice has been widely condemned by civil society, legal scholars, and ordinary Ghanaians, who see it as an assault on the integrity and image of the country. Former Chief Justice Edward Nasigri Mahama has described the process as “unconstitutional,” while the Ghana Bar Association has demanded her reinstatement.
A Supreme Court judge, Justice Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, has also weighed in on the matter, warning that the process of removing the head of the judiciary has been “reduced to no more difficult than removing a class prefect.” Her words have underscored the dangerous precedent being set and the threat to judicial independence.
The crisis has sparked concerns about the future of Ghana’s democracy, with many calling for the President to respect the independence of the judiciary. As the country navigates this constitutional crisis, it remains to be seen how the President’s actions will impact the rule of law and the separation of powers in Ghana.
“The strife is over. The battle is done.” – Daniel Domoevo, NDC Constituency Committee Member
“The process of removing the head of the judiciary has been reduced to no more difficult than removing a class prefect.” – Justice Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Supreme Court Judge
1.The Ghana Bar Association has demanded the reinstatement of the Chief Justice.
2.The Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Bar Council of England and Wales have declared Ghana in breach of international norms.
3.The National Chief Imam has voiced concerns about the humiliation visited upon the Judiciary’s head.
4.Civil society, legal scholars, and ordinary Ghanaians have condemned the process as a betrayal of democratic values.
