By Ashiadey Dotse
The director of legal affairs for the New Patriotic Party, Frank Davies has criticized the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo. He says the move is “an assault on the judiciary” and could harm the country’s democracy.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Mr. Davies said President John Mahama’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice and set up a five-member committee to investigate her could send a bad message.
“This is the first time a Chief Justice has been suspended in Ghana’s democratic history,” he said. “Even though the Constitution allows it, we should consider how this looks to the public.”
Mr. Davies agreed that the Constitution, under Article 146, gives the President the right to take such actions. But he believes the situation goes beyond law.
“The problem is not the law itself,” he explained. “It’s the way people are talking about it. Some political leaders have made comments that suggest they simply don’t like the Chief Justice and want her removed.”
He warned that such actions could shake public trust in the legal system.
“If the Chief Justice can be suspended like this, what happens to other judges?” he asked. “This is not just about laws. It’s about how people see and trust our justice system.”
President Mahama announced the creation of the committee on Monday. It includes members from legal, academic, military, and public service backgrounds. The committee is expected to do a fair and independent investigation.
Still, Mr. Davies questioned the political atmosphere around the suspension. He said the perception of fairness is just as important as the process itself.
“There’s a difference between following the Constitution and using it for political reasons,” he said. “We should not ignore how this looks to the public.”
He urged Ghanaians to protect the independence of the judiciary.
“Today it’s the Chief Justice. Tomorrow, it could be any judge. We must be careful not to go down a dangerous path,” he warned.
