The Court has Become too Political – Franklin Cudjoe Reacts to CJ’s Suspension

Ghanaian governance expert Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI Ghana reacted to the suspension of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, by President John Dramani Mahama.

Reacting to the latest development in the attempt to remove the CJ from power, Cudjoe took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to reveal that he believes the problems of the court’s legitimacy stem from its political bent in the past few years.

Cudjoe wrote: “Truth be told, the Supreme Court in the last 8 years has been very political, high-handed and a willing pliant for the previous government in pursuing most of its very dark agenda.- SALL, Domelevo, Quayson etc.”

Cudjoe nevertheless questioned the constitutional provisions governing the entire process, describing its lack of transparency as a bad move.

The IMANI Ghana top official’s comment comes after the announcement from the Presidency that the Chief Justice was suspended.

In a statement dated Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the President announced that, pursuant to Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and taken in consultation with the Council of State, the decision has been made to suspend Gertrude Torkonoo following a series of petitions made against her.

The President also set up a five-member committee to further probe the petitions and determine if a prima facie case exists against her, which could possibly lead to her removal from her role.

The committee was made up of Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, who serves as the Chairman, as well as another Justice of Ghana’s Highest court, Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu. Other members include Former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, an Associate Professor at the University of Ghana.

Reactions

The move has sparked predictable reactions, with members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) defending it while members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) oppose it.

The NPP’s minority parliamentary caucus released a formal response, calling the move a political vendetta and a brazen witch hunt.

“The President’s action reeks of intolerable political vendetta, judicial intimidation, and a calculated attempt to pack the courts with NDC-sympathetic justices,” a statement released on Monday, April 21, said.

Old-Tafo MP, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, questioned the impartiality of the committee members, describing them as partisan hacks chosen to impose the President’s will.