Mahama not wrong for suspending CJ Torkornoo; don’t politicise it — PTAAM-AFRICA to Minority

The Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Africa (PTAAM-AFRICA) has criticised the Minority in Parliament over what it describes as the politicisation of the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo.

President John Dramani Mahama suspended the Chief Justice on Tuesday, April 22, following the establishment of a prima facie case in petitions seeking her removal.

The NPP MPs described the move as a “brazen judicial coup,” a “reckless abuse of executive power,” and “a direct assault” on the independence of the judiciary.

In a statement dated April 22, the Minority called on the President to reverse the decision, citing a pending Supreme Court case challenging the process.

They further demanded “the immediate reinstatement of the Chief Justice pending the Supreme Court’s determination of the pending legal challenges” and “a halt to all removal proceedings until the judiciary has conclusively ruled on the constitutionality of the process.”

However, reacting to this in a statement dated April 23, PTAAM-AFRICA insisted the President acted within the remit of the 1992 Constitution.

“[The President’s] mandate, as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, includes the power to suspend the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office,” the group stated.

“PTAAM-AFRICA condemns the Minority Leader, Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s, attempt to subject this matter to partisan politics instead of strengthening our democracy. We unequivocally state that no individual or institution is above the law governing our conduct and misconduct in this country,” the statement, signed by its President Ebenezer K. Havor, added.