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0 The Manhyia South MP, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has expressed deep concern over the possibility of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo being suspended as part of the ongoing petition process for her removal.
He described the situation as alarming and warned that such an action could set a dangerous precedent for the judiciary.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, March 29, Baffour Awuah argued that suspending the Chief Justice would severely undermine public confidence in the judicial system.
“It is frightening to think that the head of our judiciary can be suspended under circumstances that appear politically charged. This does not bode well for the independence of our courts,” he stated.
His concerns follow President John Dramani Mahama’s response to Chief Justice Torkonoo’s request for copies of the petitions filed against her.
The President has granted her 10 days to review and respond to the allegations, as required by the constitutional process governing her potential removal.
Mr Baffour Awuah further cautioned that if the process is not handled with the utmost care, it could create a precedent where successive governments target judicial officers based on political considerations.
“The judiciary is the last line of defence for our democracy. We must be very careful not to introduce a system where Chief Justices can be easily removed or suspended whenever a new government takes office,” he warned.
