The political temperature in Ghana has surged following claims by New Patriotic Party (NPP) commentator, P.K. Sarpong, that the Council of State has voted in favor of suspending Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
According to Sarpong’s account, the controversial decision saw opposition from former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, who reportedly abstained from the voting process after unsuccessfully contesting the move.
The suspension has sparked widespread concern among legal and political observers, especially as it appears the Council of State, rather than advising caution, has chosen to push forward with the removal.
Sarpong alleges that the removal agenda had been in motion long before the National Democratic Congress (NDC) returned to power after the 2024 elections.
He claims the government had engineered a series of weak and politically motivated petitions targeting the Chief Justice, which were later presented to the Council of State.
He further indicated that President John Dramani Mahama is expected to name an acting Chief Justice on Tuesday, pending the formation of a special committee to probe the allegations made against the sitting CJ.
The development has sparked accusations that the Council of State is serving more as a political tool than a neutral advisory body, failing to evaluate the merit of the petitions objectively.
In the meantime, the matter is heading to the Supreme Court. An application for an injunction to halt the Chief Justice’s removal, filed by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, is set to be heard on May 6, 2025.
The unfolding situation is expected to draw strong reactions from both sides of the political divide, as it raises deeper questions about judicial independence and executive overreach in the country.
