A coalition of political parties, spearheaded by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has submitted a petition to Parliament calling for immediate intervention in the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The petition urges the legislative body to prevail upon President John Dramani Mahama to reverse the decision.
Leading the presentation, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused President Mahama of manipulating the judiciary for political gain. He claimed that recent judicial appointments were calculated moves to clear the path for a possible third term bid by the president.
He also alleged that the president’s next step would be to appoint a loyalist from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the new chairperson of the Electoral Commission, suggesting a broader strategy of political control through state institutions. According to him, such moves represent a pattern of intimidation designed to tilt the political playing field.
“This is a dangerous coordinated attack on Ghana’s constitutional democracy, and that is why we march today. We march to resist the rise of a new oppressor and an oppressive regime. One who wears the cloth of democracy but governs with the spirit of dictatorship. We march not as partisans but as patriots,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin urged Parliament to align with the coalition in defending judicial independence and upholding constitutional values.
The petition was received by the Clerk of Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, who assured the group that the document would be forwarded to Speaker Alban Bagbin for further action. He promised that Parliament would do what is necessary to ensure that justice prevails.
