The National Youth Organiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has threatened that a future NPP administration will oust any Chief Justice that will be appointed by President John Dramani Mahama.
His comments are based on the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, which he claims was not done according to constitutional procedure but for political reasons.
Following petitions by some private citizens for the removal of the Chief Justice, alleging abuse of power, President John Dramani Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, suspended the Chief Justice.
Madam Torkonoo’s suspension is pending investigations into the charges leveled against her after a prima facie case was established from the petitions.
But according to Mustapha, the suspension was “crude” and threatens the apolitical nature of the judiciary.
The NPP National Youth Organiser says whether the suspension is part of a grand agenda to stage a third term for President Mahama or not, it smells of political manoeuvring.
“Whether His Excellency John Dramani Mahama wants a third term or not, this is a crude way to go about it,” he said on Channel One TV Saturday, May 3, 2025.
He further highlighted how the precedent will polarise the judiciary and expose it to the fortunes of any political party that comes to power.
“Because what essentially you are doing is making the office of the Chief Justice coterminous with the party in power,” he stated, whilst cautioning of the long‑term damage to judicial independence.
In a direct address to the host, Mustapha did not mince words in expressing the NPP’s resolve to kick out any person who would be appointed by President Mahama if he removed Madam Torkornoo.
“If you go ahead with what is going on, with the suspension that has been handed to her, and then a committee comes and says she should go, then anyone you bring, by the grace of God, anytime we come into office, we’ll remove any CJ you put there,” he was emphatic.
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