Former Deputy Energy Minister Andrew Egyapa Mercer has criticized the Council of State’s advice to President John Mahama regarding the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
On April 22, President Mahama suspended the Chief Justice after consulting with the Council of State and establishing a prima facie case against her.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on April 25, Mercer emphasized that the opposition will not allow the government to breach the constitution over what he described as an “empty” petition.
“This is a clarion call that we are watching with eagle eyes and that we are not going to sit for the government to breach the institution purely on account of political experience to advance their intent to remove the Chief Justice. We cannot go on this tangent. It’s not a question of we don’t trust the judges on the panel, not at all,” he said.
He expressed concerns about the precedent set by the process of removing a Chief Justice.
While dispelling claims that the opposition is defending the Chief Justice due to a symbiotic relationship, Mercer cited the NDC’s vocal opposition during the removal process of former Electoral Commission Chairman Charlotte Osei.
The Member of Parliament for Sekondi asserted that members of the Council of State are not beyond criticism. “We respect the eminent members of the Council of State, but they are not beyond criticism,” he said. “The public is entitled to criticize their decisions.”
However, an injunction has been filed at the Supreme Court by MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah to halt the suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo.
