The drama that is unfolding is an opportunity towards the strengthening of Ghana’s democratic practices. Let every Ghanaian soberly reflect on the conduct and posture of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Almost all the Chief Justices in the fourth republic petitioned purported to removed them from office, therefore it is surprising for the New Patriotic Party and their likes deliberately creating negative imprint on the minds of the citizenry.
The hypocrisy of the New Patriotic Party is deeply engraved in their DNA.. So far non of the protagonist are able to mentioned which constitutional process the President had violated. We were in this beautiful country Ghana when these noise makers defended President Nana Akufo Addo who ignored an application pending at the supreme court intended to stop him from assenting to the electronic transfer levy bill. (E levy).
The logic, legal statutes or precedent that emboldened the former President Nana Akufo Addo assented to the electronic transfer levy bill with the speed of light, the same reasoning influenced the President John Mahama to execute his mandate to suspend the Chief Justice whenever a prima facie is established. Therefore there is nothing unconstitutional about what the President has done.
The hypocrisy of these confused group of people who always went to sleep whenever the New Patriotic Party is in power. The former President Nana Akufo Addo had a field day, violated the constitution with impunity with the tacit support of the Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo must reflect deeply about her performance especially the political cases, at hindsight if she is proud of empanelment of supreme court justices on friday within hours after Mr Afenyo Markin ran to her to save him from imminent threat to his position as majority leader. Is she proud, a preacher of the gospel deliberately frustrated the Anti -LGBTQ bill which help the president disgracefully ran away from assenting to the bill. Can she boldly be proud of her selective application of justice during her tenure as Chief Justice of Ghana.?
The chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo must not be deceived by the noise from the New Patriotic Party. They knew her predicament was an outcome of her handling of political cases that always favored the New Patriotic Party. Instead of the New Patriotic Party being remorseful for misleading the Chief Justice by appealing to the president to empathize with her, rather chose to be hostile to the president who is only a conveyer belt of the petitions
The euphoria that has greeted the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo must be a cause of concern to groups like FIDA Ghana not to slumber when individuals who are entrusted with the power to protect the citizenry misused that power to suppress others.
FIDA Ghana went to sleep when the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was under intense pressure to frustrate the Anti- LGBTQ+ bill and the empanelment of Supreme Court Justices on friday within hours to adjudicate on frivolous suit by Mr Afenyo Markin, which judgement caused more harm to Ghana’s democratic experiment.
Painful the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Essaba Torkornoo could be, FIDA Ghana have woken up too late. The suspension is the beginning of another phase of Ghana’s democratic process.
FIDA Ghana has gotten it wrong playing the gender card. The chief justice is under suspension if eventually removed would rather strengthen public and constitutional institutions and may not discourage potential competent and qualified individuals from accepting appointments.
This drama should be the catalyst for a massive mind change, and bring to an end political influences in the administration of justice in Ghana, political mediocrity must also give way for administrative professionalism..
Weep not Chief Justice, you reneged on an amicable agreement between Speaker Bagbin and your good self, to do the bidding of a dieing government. Speaker Bagbin was able to ward off some of the influences from the presidency to the chagrin of the president, which attracted unwarranted attacks mostly from then majority members of parliament, to the extent his military escorts were withdrawn.
Today, then the majority now minority members of parliament are eulogizing Speaker Bagbin for his commitment and forthrightness of building an independent legislature, devoid from Executive manipulation.
Mike Kalley
Sociopolitical Analyst.
