A coalition of political parties, including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), People’s National Party (PNP), and Ghana Union Movement (GUM), will stage a nationwide demonstration on Monday, May 5. The protest is in response to the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
In a joint statement, the coalition condemned the suspension, calling it a “direct assault on judicial independence.”
The statement read, “The blatant disregard for the rule of law is not merely a political matter but rather an assault on the very soul of our democracy.”
The coalition accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of a consistent pattern of judicial intimidation.
“The disturbing trend of judicial intimidation by the NDC is not new. The pattern is undeniable. A case in reference is the NDC failed plot in 2010 to remove Ghana’s first female Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood,” the statement said
President John Dramani Mahama suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo on Tuesday, April 22, after a prima facie case was established in relation to three separate petitions calling for her removal. A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the allegations.
The coalition’s planned protest aims to demonstrate their commitment to upholding the independence of the judiciary and Ghana’s constitutional order. The demonstration is scheduled for Monday, May 5.