Suspension of CJ petty and a cheap attempt at political equalization – Kozie

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2024 Parliamentary Candidate for Adentan, Akosua Manu, popularly known as Kozie, has criticized the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, describing it as “petty” and a “cheap attempt at political equalization.”

Speaking on ChannelOne TV’s Breakfast Daily show on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Kozie said the move by President John Dramani Mahama risks eroding public trust in Ghana’s judiciary and demonstrates a worrying trend of political interference in independent institutions.

“This is nothing more than a petty political move and a cheap attempt at creating a false sense of balance,” she said. “You don’t remove a Chief Justice, one of the last standing pillars of our democratic framework on flimsy, undisclosed grounds and call that justice. This is political equalization at its worst.”

Her comments follow Tuesday’s announcement of the suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo by President Mahama after the establishment of a prima facie case in response to three separate petitions seeking her removal from office. Though the specific allegations remain undisclosed to the public, the development has triggered national debate over the impartiality and motivations behind the action. In accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, the Chief Justice was given 10 days to respond to the petitions after being served, submitting her written reply on April 7.

Following a review of her response and consultations with the Council of State, the President determined that a prima facie case had been established. Consequently, a five-member committee was constituted to investigate the matter. The committee includes Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Associate Professor James Sefah Dzisah of the University of Ghana.

Kozie, however, insists that the process reeks of political mischief and warned that this won’t only end with the suspension of the CJ but an ultimate move to clear the board by replacing Supreme Court Judges. She forcefully made the point that President Mahama has never appointed a Chief Justice before and sees this is an attempt to do so.

“If this was truly about accountability, government would have been transparent with the public about the nature of the petitions. Instead, we’re left with secrecy, speculation, and a rushed suspension that smacks of political convenience,” she said. “What they are trying to do is to clear the Supreme Court bench and replace them with their own people.”

Kozie also took a swipe at sections of civil society and professional bodies who she claimed had gone quiet in the face of what she called a blatant attack on judicial independence. “Where are the voices that shouted ‘rule of law’ just a few years ago? The silence from some of these groups is not only disappointing, it is dangerous. It shows a clear partisan slant in how we approach constitutional matters,” she added.