Torkornoo’s removal: Afenyo-Markin is a confused politician, must all three petitions be concluded – Collins Dauda quizzes
The Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Collins Dauda, has launched a scathing attack on Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, branding him a “confused politician” for questioning the constitutionality of the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin, speaking earlier on the matter, had insisted that the President’s decision was unjust and rushed, accusing the Pwamang Committee of acting improperly. “The chief justice was removed unjustly, but we'll come back to that one. Now, we are a mourning democracy. There are petitions against the chief justice; you are done with one, and you acted on it. Is that the work of the Pwamang committee?” he asked.
But Mr. Dauda, addressing journalists in Akwatia on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, during a monitoring visit to polling stations in the ongoing by-election, dismissed the Minority Leader’s assertions outright. “The minority leader is a confused politician, and it is because we entered into the processes outlined in the constitution. For the removal of the CJ, the constitution clearly defines the processes that one has to go through. He should cite a breach,” he challenged.
Explaining further, he argued that the existence of multiple petitions did not mean every single one had to be resolved before action could be taken. “When you go to court and you are charged for four counts and you are cleared for three, and you lose one, and the one you lost has imprisonment as the charge, the court will not say that because you won the three, the one which you lost will be thrown out. They will jail you because of the one.
“There were three petitions, and you want us to wait for all three to end? Is that the thinking of the minority leader? We have been transparent in the process, and the report is clear that she must be removed, and she has been removed by the president in accordance with the laid-down processes in the constitution,” he said.
Mr. Dauda stressed that President John Dramani Mahama had acted fully within the law and in strict adherence to his presidential oath. “Remember, the president took an oath to be fair to all Ghanaians and uphold the constitution of Ghana. Do you want us to throw away what the Constitution has said or disrespect it? Is that the position of the minority leader?” he quizzed.
Turning to the Akwatia by-election, the Asutifi South MP expressed confidence in the National Democratic Congress’ chances, stressing that the electorate had faith in the NDC’s track record. “We want to help build Akwatia and bring development here. If you speak to any of the residents here, they will tell you that many of their developments happened when the NDC was in government… and the NPP hasn't done anything for Akwatia. So, the people believe that with the NDC in power, they are going to have development; therefore, they should have an NDC MP,” he added.