Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has strongly criticized the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo by President John Mahama, describing the move as “a negative reset” that threatens the independence of the judiciary.
Speaking during a demonstration on Monday, May 5, held by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other allied forces against the action of President Mahama, Mr Afenyo-Markin pointed out that attempts to remove the Chief Justice undermine the country’s democracy.
In his remarks, he questioned the intentions behind the action and called on members of the judiciary to rise above political influence.
“The judiciary is supposed to be a neutral actor in this democratic discourse. The judiciary is our last hope, and we believe that what is happening undermines our democracy and the rule of law,” he emphasised.
He condemned the petitions that triggered the processes leading to the Chief Justice’s suspension, calling it “flimsy” and “pedestrian”, and accused the Council of State of failing the country by entertaining the three letters that called for the Chief Justice to be axed.
“For the Chief Justice to be singled out for this unfortunate attack… the Council of State has failed the country. We want you as an institution to put aside your individual differences and know that it is your institution that is under attack. Maybe today it is Torkornoo; tomorrow it might be you,” he warned.
Mr Afenyo-Markin stressed that judicial officers must remain above partisan politics.
“You don’t serve at the whims and caprices of a political party and a government. If you wanted to be a politician, you would have been in a political party,” he said, adding that what is happening to Her Ladyship is “repugnant to good conscience.”
He also accused the government of hypocrisy, noting that it had previously criticised the expansion of the Supreme Court but had now appointed seven new judges under questionable circumstances.
“You know the process of appointing judges to the Supreme Court is not what has been used. So this reset is a negative reset,” he said, urging judicial staff not to be complacent.
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“I also want to take this opportunity… to draw the attention of the nation to come to terms with the fact that there must be an end to bitterness. If this vicious cycle of ‘you did it to me; I will do it to you’ continues, there will be no further hope for our democracy,” he said.
He warned that such partisan actions could haunt current judicial staff in the future, especially with the possibility of a new government in 2028.
“I am humbly calling on all judicial service staff to think deeply about tomorrow. Don’t be too comfortable because today some government officials are promising you promotions, so you don’t want to speak out. We will speak up for the sake of posterity,” he said.
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