A coalition of political parties, spearheaded by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has formally submitted a petition to Parliament, urging the legislative body to intervene and persuade President John Dramani Mahama to overturn the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
During the presentation of the petition, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused President Mahama of orchestrating a campaign to influence the judiciary through recent appointments, alleging that these actions are designed to facilitate a potential third term in office for the President.
Afenyo-Markin further asserted that the Mahama administration’s next move would be to appoint a loyalist from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to chair the Electoral Commission, claiming that the government is resorting to intimidation tactics to gain an unfair advantage.
“This is a dangerous coordinated attack on Ghana’s constitutional democracy, and that is why we march today. We march to resist the rise of a new oppressor and an oppressive regime. One who wears the cloth of democracy but governs with the spirit of dictatorship. We march not as partisans but as patriots,” he declared.
He called upon Parliament to demonstrate solidarity with the political parties in their efforts to defend the neutrality and constitutional values of the judiciary.
Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, the Clerk of Parliament, received the petition and assured the coalition that the document would be promptly transmitted to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for appropriate action. He pledged that Parliament would take the necessary steps to ensure that justice is upheld. This petition and the accusations made by the NPP are likely to intensify the political tensions surrounding the Chief Justice’s suspension.
