Be the nation’s Chief Justice, not the President’s chief judge — Prof Kwaku Azar to future Chief Justice 

Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, affectionately known as Prof Kwaku Azar, a renowned legal expert, has advised future Chief Justices to rise above executive control and maintain the judiciary's independence.

His suggestion comes after President John Dramani Mahama suspended the current Chief Justice, Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo, after establishing a prima facie case in response to three different petitions filed against her.

In a social media post on Tuesday, April 22, Prof Azar called such periods as difficult but vital for the preservation of constitutional order.

He emphasized the need of maintaining the judiciary's impartiality and strength, stressing that any attempt by a Chief Justice to operate as an extension of the Executive would damage the very institution they are supposed to lead.

“You are the nation’s Chief Justice, not the President’s chief judge,” he wrote, adding that, “Your authority does not derive from executive grace. It flows from the Constitution. Maintain professional distance from the Executive. Never act as an emissary for its agenda.”

He also cautioned against behind-the-scenes dealings in Supreme Court appointments and interference with judicial panels, saying such actions breed institutional distrust and undermine the judiciary’s legitimacy.

“Recommending names directly to the President or negotiating appointments behind closed doors undermines the Judicial Council and breeds distrust,” he stated.