Ghana protesters accuse president of robbing power after chief justice is suspended
Hundreds of opposition protesters dressed in red and black condemned a ruling by the Ghanaian president to suspend the country’s chief justice and demanded that she immediately restore her status.
They accused President John Mahama of failing to follow due process, violating the Constitution, and said he was interfering in the independence of the judiciary.
Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from her conduct investigation last week – the first time the Chief Justice was suspended in Ghana's history.
The president said the three sent him a petition that took action after a petition sent to him, which contained allegations against Chief Justice Torkornoo.
The demonstration in Accra on Monday was led by the main opposition New Patriot Party (NPP), who were appointed two years ago by Chief Justice Torkornoo, appointed by then-President Nana Akufo Addo.
NPP's national organizer Nana Boakye Yiadom told the BBC that her treatment was politically motivated and attacks on democracy.
Three smaller opposition groups were also participating in the protests.
The opposition’s demands echo those requests made by the Ghana Bar Association last week. The group of top legal professionals said it was unconstitutional to suspend the Chief Justice and President Mahama had to revoke that.
But this view is not shared by everyone.
Many lawyers in the country believe that public officials have evidence of misconduct regardless of the position and that the president has the right to act. The president’s supporters also support this view.
Under the law, Ghana's chief judges enjoy term safety, meaning they remain in office until retirement.
However, Ghana's constitution does give the president the authority to appoint, suspend or even fire evidence of wrongdoing, including incompetence and misconduct. However, some Ghanaians believe that due process has not been followed in this case.
“The judiciary is under attack and we want to do the right thing. Why did he suspend the Chief Justice?” one protester Serwaa Akoto told the BBC.
Serwaa Akoto, protesting in Accra, said the judiciary was under attack [THOMAS NAADI / BBC]
Charles Oteng also told the BBC during the protests: “We want to send a strong signal to the president. Yes, indeed, he has all the powers of the president, but the way he attacks our judiciary is very shocking – we young people will not be willing to do anything he wants to do.”
Chief Justice Torkornoo is the third woman to hold the position in Ghana. Since winning power, the Democratic Congress in Mahama has strengthened allegations of bias in famous political cases she denied.
She is expected to answer questions in person before a committee investigating the allegations against her.
More BBC stories about Ghana:
go bbcafrica.com More news about the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @bbcafrica,on Facebook BBC Africa Or on Instagram bbcafraca
BBC Africa Podcast
