Ghana: President Mahama’s Suspension of the Chief Justice Sparks Concerns Over Judicial Independence

Edition : Africa Eye

A political storm is brewing in Ghana following President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on April 22, 2025. Citing allegations of misconduct—including alleged tampering with court records and misuse of public funds—Mahama moved to suspend the Chief Justice after receiving three undisclosed petitions and consulting with the Council of State. This unprecedented action marks the first time under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution that a sitting Chief Justice has been suspended, shaking the foundations of the country’s democratic framework.

The move has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which denounced the suspension as a politically motivated attack on the judiciary. Civil society organizations and legal experts have also voiced alarm, warning that the lack of transparency surrounding the process could severely erode public trust in Ghana’s courts. While government officials maintain that the suspension strictly follows constitutional procedures, the event has heightened political tensions and ignited a wider debate over the separation of powers. As the investigation proceeds, the eyes of the nation—and the international community—are fixed on Ghana’s commitment to upholding judicial independence and the rule of law.