Hon. Korkor Asante, Member of Parliament for Atiwa West, has issued a strongly worded statement condemning the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo by President John Dramani Mahama, calling it a politically motivated act that threatens the integrity of Ghana’s judiciary.
In her statement, Hon. Asante expressed deep concern over the decision, arguing that the suspension lacks merit and sets a dangerous precedent for judicial independence in Ghana. She noted that after reviewing the petitions and responses of the Chief Justice, no reasonable basis exists to justify her removal.
“Let history record that we did not remain silent while the last bastion of our democracy, the judiciary, was laid bare and handed over on a silver platter to political control,” Hon. Asante declared.
The legislator described the judiciary as the final refuge for Ghanaian citizens, stating that its erosion through political interference undermines the country’s constitutional order. He warned that if unchecked, such actions could lead to autocracy, eliminating the separation of powers vital to Ghana’s democratic system.
“What we are witnessing is not simply a political manoeuvre; it is a gradual death of constitutional order and the quiet burial of the judiciary’s independence,” Hon. Asante emphasized.
She further highlighted the significance of Chief Justice Torkornoo’s position, pointing out that her confirmation by Parliament marked a rare moment of gender representation in the judicial system. However, she expressed concerns that political interference now threatens not only her leadership but also the broader effort to ensure gender parity in governance.
Hon. Asante urged Ghanaians to recognize the broader implications of the Chief Justice’s suspension, asserting that failure to protect judicial independence would betray past generations who fought for democratic freedoms.
“Democracy dies not with a loud bang, but with a quiet surrender, one institution at a time. Today it is the judiciary; tomorrow, it will be another,” she warned.
Concluding her statement, Hon. Asante called on civil society, legal experts, and all Ghanaian citizens to stand against this act, emphasizing that allowing the judiciary to be compromised would erase the principles of Freedom and Justice values enshrined in Ghana’s democratic fabric.
