NPP Denounces Chief Justice Suspension as Constitutional Crisis Looms

The New Patriotic Party has declared a state of alarm over President John Mahama’s suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, framing the unprecedented move as an assault on Ghana’s democratic foundations.

During the launch of their “Thank You Tour” in Accra, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong delivered a blistering critique that blended constitutional concerns with political mobilization.

“The arbitrary removal of a sitting Chief Justice mid-petition establishes dangerous precedent,” Kodua told assembled supporters, referencing the pending Supreme Court challenge to the suspension process. His remarks highlighted the delicate balance between executive authority and judicial independence, noting this marks the first such suspension in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

The NPP’s response operates on multiple levels – legal, political, and symbolic. By invoking civil society and the Ghana Bar Association, the opposition seeks to transform the issue from partisan dispute to national crisis. Kodua’s simultaneous apology for NPP governance shortcomings suggests strategic awareness that defending democratic institutions requires moral credibility.

Legal scholars remain divided on the constitutional technicalities, with some citing Article 146 provisions for judicial removal while others question procedural adherence. The NPP’s promised protests and economic exposés indicate an opposition shifting from electoral defeat to active resistance, potentially testing Ghana’s democratic resilience.

As the judiciary crisis unfolds alongside economic challenges, Ghana faces a defining test of its institutional checks and balances. The coming weeks may determine whether this becomes a temporary political skirmish or evolves into a more profound constitutional confrontation with lasting implications for the rule of law.