National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has criticised the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, describing it as a premeditated action and the execution of a campaign promise by President Mahama.
He contended that the petitions currently under inquiry, which allege incompetence and misconduct on the part of the Chief Justice, are baseless but have been “entertained” by President Mahama allegedly to fulfil a campaign promise made to some NDC lawyers years ago.
“This whole action is premeditated. It is preconceived. President Mahama is only executing a campaign promise. You may recall that a few years ago, he met a group of NDC lawyers. He addressed them and spoke about the challenges he had with the judiciary during his previous tenure.”
“He said that when he returns as president, he would clean up the judiciary and ensure changes at the top. So, what we are witnessing is simply the fulfilment of that campaign promise,” he said.
He questioned the merits of the petitions, alleging that the stated grounds of misconduct and incompetence are the same facts that failed to establish a prima facie case when CDD Fellow, Professor Kweku Asare, petitioned former President Akufo-Addo.
Nana Boakye inferred that the reliefs sought in the petition, which call for the Chief Justice’s removal, implicate the panel of five justices who presided over the Afenyo-Markin case against Parliament regarding the declaration of four vacant seats ahead of the 2024 elections. This, he argued, implies a call for the removal of the other four Supreme Court judges as well.
“You cannot be tried for the same case, same matter, same facts. Why? And don’t forget that the Chief Justice only chairs the panel. So, if you’re accusing her of a particular action, then it means you’re accusing all four other justices of the Supreme Court. That would mean calling for the removal of all of them,” he said.
He made these statements in resolve of the coalition of five political parties, including the New Patriotic Party, which plans to protest on May 5, 2025, against the suspension of the Chief Justice.
They argue her suspension is unconstitutional and a threat to the country’s democracy.