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| Gertrude Torkornoo: Suspension of Ghana's chief justice is 'abuse of power', says opposition | Gertrude Torkornoo: Suspension of Ghana's chief justice is 'abuse of power', says opposition |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Gertrude Torkornoo has been Ghana's chief justice since 2023 | Gertrude Torkornoo has been Ghana's chief justice since 2023 |
| Opposition MPs in Ghana have fiercely condemned the suspension of the country's chief justice, accusing President John Mahama of trying to "pack the courts" with justices who are sympathetic to the governing party, the NDC. | Opposition MPs in Ghana have fiercely condemned the suspension of the country's chief justice, accusing President John Mahama of trying to "pack the courts" with justices who are sympathetic to the governing party, the NDC. |
| Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from her post on Wednesday - the first time a chief justice has been suspended in the country's history. | Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from her post on Wednesday - the first time a chief justice has been suspended in the country's history. |
| The action was taken after three petitions, which made allegations against Ms Torkornoo, were filed. | The action was taken after three petitions, which made allegations against Ms Torkornoo, were filed. |
| The content of the petitions has not been made public and Ms Torkornoo is yet to comment openly on the matter. | The content of the petitions has not been made public and Ms Torkornoo is yet to comment openly on the matter. |
| Mahama's supporters have backed the move as a long overdue move to clean up the judiciary. | Mahama's supporters have backed the move as a long overdue move to clean up the judiciary. |
| But it was condemned by the opposition as "nothing short of a brazen judicial coup, a reckless abuse of executive power, and a direct assault on the independence of Ghana's judiciary". | But it was condemned by the opposition as "nothing short of a brazen judicial coup, a reckless abuse of executive power, and a direct assault on the independence of Ghana's judiciary". |
| On Tuesday, a statement from the presidency said the chief justice was asked to step aside so that the allegations against her could be investigated. | On Tuesday, a statement from the presidency said the chief justice was asked to step aside so that the allegations against her could be investigated. |
| Since the suspension was announced, two more petitions have been filed against Ms Torkornoo. | Since the suspension was announced, two more petitions have been filed against Ms Torkornoo. |
| Former attorney general Godfred Yeboah Dame told the BBC he thought the suspension was a "complete charade... the biggest assault on the [judiciary] in the nation's history". | Former attorney general Godfred Yeboah Dame told the BBC he thought the suspension was a "complete charade... the biggest assault on the [judiciary] in the nation's history". |
| Before Ms Torkornoo was suspended, lawyers filed at least two lawsuits challenging the legality of the procedure being used by the president. | Before Ms Torkornoo was suspended, lawyers filed at least two lawsuits challenging the legality of the procedure being used by the president. |
| Some lawyers argue that the president should have given copies of the petition to the chief justice before suspending her, which he initially failed to do. However, he did later make them available to her. | |
| The caucus of opposition MPs says that by suspending the chief justice before the Supreme Court had ruled on these lawsuits, Mahama had "violated" due process. | The caucus of opposition MPs says that by suspending the chief justice before the Supreme Court had ruled on these lawsuits, Mahama had "violated" due process. |
| But some Ghanaians support the president's move. | But some Ghanaians support the president's move. |
| Dr Tony Aidoo, Ghana's former ambassador to the Netherlands, told radio station Joy FM: "I think the president is protecting the judiciary in Ghana from the actions of a person who does not behave in a manner that should keep her there... if there's a stench in the room you have to let in fresh air." | |
| Some accuse the Supreme Court under Ms Torkornoo of siding with former President Nana Akufo-Addo and his party on several high-profile political cases. | Some accuse the Supreme Court under Ms Torkornoo of siding with former President Nana Akufo-Addo and his party on several high-profile political cases. |
| For example, last year, the justices ruled that the speaker's decision to declare four MPs' seats vacant was unconstitutional. | For example, last year, the justices ruled that the speaker's decision to declare four MPs' seats vacant was unconstitutional. |
| Ghana has had 15 chief justices, whose job involves overseeing the administration of justice in the country. | Ghana has had 15 chief justices, whose job involves overseeing the administration of justice in the country. |
| From 1992 - when Ghana returned to democracy - until now, all of the country's chief justices have ended their term by retiring. None have been suspended or permanently removed. | |
| Chief justices can only be removed from office on a few grounds, such as incompetence or misbehaviour. | Chief justices can only be removed from office on a few grounds, such as incompetence or misbehaviour. |
| Ms Torkornoo is Ghana's third female chief justice and was nominated in 2023 by Akufo-Addo. | Ms Torkornoo is Ghana's third female chief justice and was nominated in 2023 by Akufo-Addo. |
| According to Reuters news agency, Ms Torkornoo survived a removal request earlier this year when Akufo-Addo said a petition to have her dismissed had "several deficiencies". | According to Reuters news agency, Ms Torkornoo survived a removal request earlier this year when Akufo-Addo said a petition to have her dismissed had "several deficiencies". |
| A five-member committee has now been set up to investigate the current allegations against Ms Torkornoo. | A five-member committee has now been set up to investigate the current allegations against Ms Torkornoo. |
| More Ghana stories from the BBC: | More Ghana stories from the BBC: |
| 'We are poisoning ourselves': Ghana gold rush sparks environmental disaster | 'We are poisoning ourselves': Ghana gold rush sparks environmental disaster |
| 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' | 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' |
| Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack | Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |