The Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, has launched a scathing attack on the National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing the party of orchestrating a politically motivated removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. Mr. Darko alleges that the NDC, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, had planned Justice Torkornoo’s dismissal long before the official petition by Daniel Ofori was even submitted. He contends that the petition served as a mere pretext for an action already decided upon within the NDC’s inner circles. Mr. Darko’s accusations portray the removal of the Chief Justice not as a response to legitimate concerns, but as a calculated political maneuver designed to serve the NDC’s agenda.
Central to Mr. Darko’s argument is the assertion that President Mahama’s intent to remove Justice Torkornoo predates the official complaint. He points to a meeting between President Mahama and NDC lawyers, followed by public statements from prominent party figures like National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, which he interprets as revealing the party’s predetermined course of action. These statements, made prior to the filing of the petition, allegedly reflect a pre-existing desire within the NDC leadership to oust the Chief Justice. This, according to Mr. Darko, exposes the petition as a convenient tool utilized by the NDC to legitimize a pre-planned removal, thereby casting doubt on the official narrative surrounding the event.
Mr. Darko’s accusations paint a picture of a politically driven process, alleging that the NDC used the petition as a smokescreen to conceal its true motives. He emphasizes the timing of public statements by NDC leaders, arguing that these pronouncements, made before the petition surfaced, reveal a pre-existing plan to remove Justice Torkornoo. This premeditation, he suggests, undermines the credibility of the official justification for the Chief Justice’s dismissal and exposes the NDC’s manipulation of the situation for political gain.
The Suame MP’s claims raise serious questions about the integrity of the process that led to the removal of the Chief Justice. If indeed the NDC had pre-determined Justice Torkornoo’s dismissal, the use of the petition appears as a calculated strategy to provide a veneer of legitimacy to an action driven by political motivations. This, according to Mr. Darko’s narrative, underscores the NDC’s willingness to manipulate legal procedures for political expediency, potentially undermining the independence of the judiciary.
The implications of Mr. Darko’s allegations extend beyond the immediate circumstances of the Chief Justice’s removal. They raise broader concerns about the politicization of judicial processes and the potential erosion of judicial independence. If political parties are perceived to orchestrate the removal of judges based on partisan interests, public trust in the impartiality and fairness of the judicial system could be severely compromised. This, in turn, could destabilize the rule of law and create an environment where political considerations supersede legal principles.
Mr. Darko’s accusations call for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the removal of Justice Torkornoo. If his allegations are substantiated, it would represent a significant breach of democratic norms and a dangerous precedent for future judicial appointments and dismissals. Such an investigation is crucial to upholding the integrity of the judiciary and safeguarding public trust in the rule of law. The outcome could have profound implications for the future of Ghana’s political and legal landscape, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in matters concerning the judiciary.
