Deputy General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Foyo Gbande, has described as “rumour-mongering and paranoia”, the opposition NPP’s third term ambition attributed to President John Dramani Mahama.
According to Gbande, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) claim is only an attempt to create public fear over something which is nonexistent.
He explains that the NPP has resorted to such rumours after realising they cannot change the legal processes guiding the petitions for the removal of the Chief Justice.
He indicates that the opposition party has harboured a fear which they are expressing through the processes guiding the ousting of the Chief Justice.
“One, it is no longer just that Chief Justice Torkornoo was unfairly treated, but that they can see into the future that President Mahama would have to do a third term. And for that, they are scared,” he said on Accra-based JoyNews Monday, May 5, 2025.
The Director of Operations at the Presidency questioned if it is “in the place of the NPP to determine constitutional interpretation”, when asked if President Mahama has an ambition to contest for a third term.
He believes the claims are merely a tactic to divert attention from the core issue on the table, which is the constitutionally mandated process being followed by the President to suspend the Chief Justice, pending an inquiry by a Committee over the petitions against the occupant of the office.
“They are inviting President Mahama to do a great injustice to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana,” he stated.
The conversation stems from the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, by President John Dramani Mahama. The decision followed the establishment of a prima facie case in response to three separate petitions seeking her removal from office.
The decision, in line with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and taken in consultation with the Council of State, was announced on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, marking a significant moment in Ghana’s judicial history, as the head of the Judiciary faces an inquiry into her conduct.
Although the specific allegations contained in the petitions have not been publicly disclosed, they have stirred widespread debate within the legal and political circles, raising questions about judicial accountability and integrity of the judiciary’s leadership.
In accordance with constitutional procedures, Chief Justice Torkornoo was furnished with copies of the petitions and given 10 days to respond, which she submitted on April 7, 2025.
Following a review of the response and further consultations, the President determined that a prima facie case had been established. Consequently, a five-member committee was constituted under Article 146(6) to investigate the matter.
The committee is composed as follows:
Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice of the Supreme Court – Chairman
Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, Justice of the Supreme Court – Member
Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Former Auditor-General – Member
Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, Ghana Armed Forces – Member
Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor, University of Ghana – Member
Per Article 146(10) of the Constitution and upon the advice of the Council of State, the President issued a warrant for the suspension of the Chief Justice pending the outcome of the committee’s investigations.
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