The removal of a Chief Justice with just cause will not spark international reaction, contrary to the opposition New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) claims, National Chairman of the governing NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has noted.
He questions whether the international community supports a democracy where 70% of the population do not trust the judiciary, citing a pre-December 2024 survey that showed majority of Ghanaians have reservations about the judiciary.
According to the NDC Chairman, democracy cannot thrive in a country where a critical institution like the judiciary lose the trust of the people.
Speaking on Onua TV’s morning show, Maakye with Captain Smart on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Asiedu Nketia emphasised that a robust judiciary is crucial for the business community.
Investors, he noted, typically ask if a nation has an impartial judiciary before making investment decisions. He asserted that if the narrative suggests the judiciary can’t protect investors’ interests but instead caters to powerful interests, it becomes prudent that the nation acts on it.
Asiedu Nketia said he supports the ongoing process, acknowledging the mechanisms in place. The NDC Chair believes the probe into petitions calling for the Chief Justice’s removal will strengthen Ghana’s democracy.
He insists that since the constitution outlines procedures for addressing breaches, he sees nothing wrong with the process.
“I pray the ongoing process doesn’t end abruptly but is instead thoroughly investigated to determine the petitioners’ truthfulness. If they’re found to have lied, they should be arrested and punished. If they told the truth, the officeholder is undeserving and should be removed and replaced,” he said in Twi.
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, has been suspended by President John Dramani Mahama, following some petitions filed by some private citizens to get her out of office for alleged abuse of her office.
This followed the establishment of a prima facie case against her. The President has also set up a committee to investigate the petitions seeking her potential ousting.
Madam Torkornoo also filed a petition at the Supreme Court to stop the committee probing the petitions against her, asking that some of the committee members be expunged from the panel and demanded that the probe be held on camera rather than being in-camera.
But the apex court struck out the supplementary affidavit she filed in support of her injunction application.
The affidavit alleged inhumane treatment, violation of her dignity, and described the ongoing proceedings as a “mockery of justice” and a “ruse” aimed at unjustifiably removing her from office.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the contents of the affidavit referred to events that occurred before the committee investigating the petitions for her removal — proceedings which, by law, are expected to be held in-camera.
A five-member panel of the court upheld an objection raised by the deputy Attorney-General (A-G), Justice Srem-Sai, who argued that the supplementary affidavit violated Article 146(8) of the Constitution. That provision mandates that proceedings concerning the removal of justices be conducted in private.
According to the deputy A-G, by deposing to an affidavit that disclosed aspects of the committee’s deliberations, the suspended Chief Justice breached this constitutional requirement.
Former A-G and legal counsel for Justice Torkonoo, Godfred Yeboah Dame, countered that the affidavit was submitted within a judicial forum and not disclosed to the general public. He argued that this did not constitute a breach of Article 146(8).
Nonetheless, the Supreme Court held that the contents of the affidavit indeed violated the confidentiality provisions under the Constitution and accordingly struck it out.
The probe is currently ongoing smoothly, with Ghanaians patiently awaiting the outcome.
‘There’s absolutely no circumstance that’ll let CJ Torkornoo be reinstated – Dr. Zaato
