A coalition of political parties led by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) staged a major demonstration on Monday to protest the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, describing the action as a politically driven attack on judicial independence.
Scores of demonstrators attended the protest, dubbed the “Article 21 Demo,” which called for the immediate reinstatement of the Chief Justice. The group framed their cause as a defense of constitutional governance and press freedom, warning of broader implications for Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Ahead of the protest, NPP Director of Communications Richard Ahiagbah took to social media to accuse President John Mahama and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of undermining the judiciary. “The survival of the rule of law is at stake,” he warned.
The controversy erupted after President Mahama suspended Justice Torkornoo pending an inquiry into impeachment petitions. While the presidency claims the move followed constitutional procedures and consultations with the Council of State, critics argue it sets a troubling precedent of executive overreach.
Legal experts, including the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), have condemned the suspension as unconstitutional. GBA spokesperson Saviour Kudze emphasized that although Article 146(10) permits presidential discretion in judicial suspensions, such power must be exercised with legislative oversight. “No constitutional instrument exists to regulate this discretion,” he stated, noting that an emergency GBA meeting on April 26 unanimously opposed the president’s action.
This marks the first time a sitting Chief Justice has been suspended under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, intensifying concerns about growing politicization within the judiciary. Analysts warn that the outcome of this standoff could redefine the limits of presidential authority and shape the future of judicial independence in Ghana and beyond.
As public pressure mounts, the government has yet to officially respond, but the GBA’s call for an immediate reversal of the suspension ensures the issue will remain a key point of national debate
