The Member of Parliament for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, has accused President John Dramani Mahama of suspending Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo on grounds of personal dislike, labeling the move a dangerous assault on the judiciary’s independence and Ghana’s democratic principles.

The suspension, announced on April 22, 2025, marks a historic first in Ghana, as no president has previously taken such action against a Chief Justice.

In a post on his social media page on April 23, 2025, Ntim Fordjour criticised Mahama’s "reset agenda," alleging that it has led to politically motivated actions, including the mass termination of thousands of public sector jobs and now the suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo.

“Your Excellency Mr President, under your watch, as part of your reset agenda, politically motivated witch-hunting has seen the mass termination of thousands of jobs in the public sector,” he wrote.

He further claimed that the president’s “brazen determination to remove the Chief Justice reveals volumes about the real intent behind your reset agenda.”

President Mahama suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo with immediate effect on April 22, 2025, following three petitions filed against her alleging misconduct.

According to a statement from the presidency, President Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, determined that a prima facie case had been established under Article 146(6) of Ghana’s constitution.

A five-member committee has been set up to investigate the allegations, with Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie appointed as Acting Chief Justice during the probe.

Ntim Fordjour, however, dismissed the reasons cited for Torkornoo’s suspension as “far-fetched” and accused President Mahama of pursuing a politically-compliant replacement for the Chief Justice.

“Yes, you may not be the first president to go down in history as the president who removed his Chief Justice on grounds of personal dislike. But that’s certainly not a noble or enviable precedent to follow either. All the reasons cited as the basis for a prima facie case for the suspension of Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo are far-fetched.

“The independence of the judiciary is paramount to the integrity of our democratic pursuit. Your palpable pursuit of removing the Chief Justice and replacing her with a politically compliant one clearly affronts key principles of good governance and is dangerous for the future of Ghana’s democracy,” Ntim Fordjour, who also serves as the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, added.

He called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the diplomatic community, and the Ghanaian population to resist what he described as a destructive and vindictive course being championed by President John Dramani Mahama.

“Let’s not watch as this is added to the plethora of infamous achievements of the president in his 120 days in office, i.e., unfair mass terminations of jobs, storming of innocent political opponents’ homes with armed thugs, Dumsor, cocaine trafficking, and money laundering,” he added.

The suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo has sparked widespread debates.

Former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, speaking to the BBC, called the move “the biggest assault on the judiciary in the nation’s history,” labeling it a “complete charade” aimed at undermining judicial independence.

Some lawyers have also raised concerns about procedural fairness, noting that copies of the petitions were initially withheld from Torkornoo, though they were later provided to allow her to respond in writing.

This is not the first attempt to remove Torkornoo from office. Earlier in 2025, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo rejected a petition for her removal, citing deficiencies.

The current investigation will determine whether Torkornoo will be permanently removed or reinstated, with the committee expected to invite her for further responses before making a final decision.

In response to criticisms of the president’s actions, members of the government and the ruling party maintain that the process has been fair and transparent in accordance with constitutional provisions.

GA/AE

Your Excellency Mr President, under your watch, as part of your reset agenda, politically-motivated witch-hunting has seen the mass termination of thousands of jobs in the public sector. As if that was not enough, your brazen determination to remove the Chief Justice reveals…

— John Ntim Fordjour MP (@NtimFordjour) April 23, 2025