Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of endangering Ghana’s democratic foundations over efforts to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, April 19, Ahiagbah questioned both the motive and democratic implications of the former president’s actions, describing the move as unjustifiable.
“I think this president is taking an intended or unintended aim at the core of our democracy. This whole business of trying to remove the Chief Justice cannot be apologised for, and nobody can convince me that it makes any democratic sense, in terms of the practice and the furtherance of democracy in our country,” Ahiagbah stated.
“Removing the Chief Justice does not make any rational sense. On that account, I will say that his administration has performed poorly on that score. What brought them into power is the democracy, and if they are aiming to affect that, for me, it cannot be excused,” he added.
His remarks come as the controversy surrounding the petition for the Chief Justice’s removal continues to draw political and legal scrutiny.
The petition, which President Mahama formally referred to the Council of State in line with constitutional procedure, triggered a swift response from Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who requested access to the contents of the petition to prepare her defence.
President Mahama, in response, granted the Chief Justice a 10-day window to submit her written explanation.
Sources have confirmed that Chief Justice Torkornoo met the deadline, submitting her response ahead of April 7, 2025, to both the President and the Council of State.
The Council of State is now expected to evaluate the petition and determine whether the case merits further action.