CJ Suspension: NPP Hints at Protest

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has hinted at spilling onto the streets over President John Dramani Mahama’s suspension of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.

In a Facebook post, the National Organiser of the opposition party, Henry Nana Boakye, rallied the well-meaning Ghanaians to speak up against the move.

According to him, President Mahama’s “relentless” attempts to remove the Chief justice are clearly a fulfilment of the political promise made by the NDC prior to the 2024 elections.

“The time to SPEAK UP, PROTEST, AGITATE, AND DEMONSTRATE against this violent political agenda clothed in constitutional garment is NOW. Don’t be indifferent. Be a Citizen.”

Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament characterized the suspension as a “brazen judicial coup, a reckless abuse of Executive power, and a direct assault on the independence of Ghana’s Judiciary.”

It deems the action as an attempt by the government to gain political control over the third arm of government.

“It is an unpardonable affront to the rule of law that the President has, in consultation with the Council of State, proceeded to suspend the Chief Justice while the Supreme Court is yet to rule on the constitutionality of the very process being used against her.”

The Minority also threatened to resort to legal action if the government went further with its attempt to remove the Chief Justice and to pack the judiciary with politically compliant judges.

“The legal fraternity, civil society, and all defenders of democracy will not stand idly by while the judiciary is turned into an appendage of the Executive.”

It also wants the processes to investigate the petitions calling for the removal of the CJ suspended until the judiciary has conclusively ruled on the constitutionality of the process.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini