President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has sparked strong criticism. Some, including members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), believe that the president is showing bias against women in positions of power and undermining the independence of the judiciary. One of the naysayers is Akosua Manu, a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Manu linked the present scandal to incidents that occurred under Mahama’s earlier presidency and involved the late Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, the first woman to occupy the position. She wrote on X (previously Twitter): “The same president who pardoned the men who threatened to rape and murder the first female chief justice has suspended another female chief justice.”
The Montie FM scandal of 2016, in which two radio hosts were convicted of making threats against Chief Justice Wood and other judges, was mentioned in her piece. The public was outraged by Mahama’s decision to pardon them, which was seen by many as a threat to the independence of the judiciary. Three independent petitions have allegedly formed a prima facie case against Torkornoo, leading to his suspension, according to the president. The petitions include wrongdoing and constitutional breaches.
Justice Gabriel Pwamang of the Supreme Court will head a five-person commission that will investigate the matter. Many observers find it difficult to ignore the move’s political and gendered implications, particularly considering Mahama’s troubled past with female judges, even if the president’s office claims that the suspension is in line with constitutional protocols.
The public is still not unanimous. The investigation is being viewed by some legal experts as an essential step towards accountability, while others perceive it as a strategic move to influence the court system. As the inquiry continues, many see it as a test of the resilience of Ghana’s democratic institutions in the face of political interference.
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