The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has described the recent nomination of seven Court of Appeal judges to the Supreme Court by President John Mahama as the first steps to seeking a third term in office.
He cautioned that this quest by the President to extend his stay in office is ill-advised.
“The nomination of seven Appeals Court judges immediately after suspending the Chief Justice reveals a deeper, more dangerous political ambition—a third-term agenda in disguise,” he alleged.
The Minority Leader added, “This is not a routine judicial appointment. What we are witnessing is a strategic and deliberate effort to pack the Supreme Court with loyalists.”
Mr Afenyo-Markin said this at a press conference organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on May Day under the auspices of the planned ‘Save our Judiciary’ demonstration.
He accused President Mahama of undermining democratic governance.
“This is not how a responsible government strengthens the rule of law. This is how a government tightens its grip on power through the backdoor,” Afenyo-Markin alleged.
He called on civil society, religious leaders, and the wider public to remain vigilant and speak out against what he termed an assault on the judiciary.
“We must not be silent. This is a national issue that transcends partisan lines. The integrity of our justice system is at stake, and we must resist any attempt to convert it into a political tool,” he charged.
It is recalled that on April 30, President Mahama nominated seven Justices of the Court of Appeal to be considered for appointment as Supreme Court Justices.
The nomination was announced in a letter signed on April 29, 2025 by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President in pursuant to Article 144(2) of the 1992 constitution.
The Justices include; Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Justice Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Justice Senyo Dzamefe, Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo and Justice Philip Bright Mensah.
The rest are; Justice Janapare Bartels-Kodwo and Justice Hafisata Amaleboba.
President Mahama’s nomination of the Justices follows his recent suspension of Gertrude Torkornoo as the Chief Justice after establishing a prima facie case against her in consultation with the Council of State following three petitions for her removal.
The President has also established a five member committee to look into the petitions against Gertrude Torkonoo. Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie is now the Acting Chief Justice pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Justice.
However, the Minority Caucus and the Ghana Bar Association have opposed the suspension of Justice Torkonoo, arguing that the President’s action is unconstitutional and must be revoked immediately.
The GBA declared the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as unconstitutional. This was a key point in a statement released at the GBA’s 2025 Mid-Year Conference in Accra.
They argued that the way the Chief Justice was suspended goes against Ghana’s laws.
They believe that President John Dramani Mahama did not follow the correct legal procedures. Specifically, the GBA states that the President did not publish an official document (Constitutional Instrument, Statutory Instrument, or Regulation) to explain how he came to his decision.
In addition to the issue of the suspension, the GBA is also asking for new, clear rules to be created.
These rules would cover how to handle situations involving judges of the Superior Courts, especially in cases that could lead to their removal from office. The GBA believes this will make the process more transparent, fair, and accountable.
