Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has urged the Council of State to tread cautiously regarding petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning Dwaso Nsem, he warned that the move could set a dangerous precedent that might undermine the judiciary and Ghana’s democracy.
“This can break us as a nation. The judiciary is very important, and we should not play the ostrich. If you remove her today, another government may also come and remove a new Chief Justice. That is why we are appealing to the Council of State—if there are no strong grounds, they should be careful in the way they handle this matter,” he stated.
His comments come after President John Mahama began consultations with the Council of State following the submission of three petitions seeking the removal of the Chief Justice.
The process is in line with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, according to a statement from the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
However, the NPP lawmaker acknowledged that the petition process is constitutional but stressed that removing the Chief Justice would not solve any systemic issues.
“The Council of State should rather focus on bringing reforms because removing the Chief Justice alone will not be enough. Another government can come and remove a new Chief Justice, and this cycle can weaken our institutions,” he cautioned.
While noting that he had previously argued cases before Chief Justice Torkornoo, the Manhyia South MP said he was yet to review the details of the petition and could not determine whether it was justified.
“Chief Justice is a human being and, like any other judge, can make mistakes. That is why Article 146 provides a procedure for removing both a judge and a Chief Justice because they are two separate offices,” he explained.
He also clarified that a petition does not automatically mean the Chief Justice must be suspended, urging all parties to follow due process.
“We are yet to see the petition, so we cannot blame anyone. But we must ensure that we don’t allow politicians to destroy Ghana’s democracy,” he concluded.
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