A wave of criticism has followed President John Dramani Mahama’s suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, with New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Akosua Manu questioning the former president’s record on women in leadership and judicial independence.
Reacting to Tuesday’s announcement, Ms. Manu drew sharp parallels between the current suspension and a previous controversy during Mr. Mahama’s administration involving the late Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, Ghana’s first female head of the judiciary.
“Another female Chief Justice suspended by the same President who once pardoned the men who threatened to rape and kill the first female Chief Justice,” she posted on social media. “This is beyond concerning.”
Another female Chief Justice suspended by the same President who pardoned the men who threatened to rape and kill the first female Chief Justice.
— Akosua Manu (@KozieOzie) April 22, 2025
Her remarks refer to a 2016 case in which two panelists on Montie FM made threatening remarks against then-Chief Justice Georgina Wood and other Supreme Court justices, prompting widespread condemnation.
Although the men were convicted of criminal contempt and sentenced, President Mahama controversially granted them a presidential pardon — a move that was widely criticized as undermining the judiciary.
The current suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo follows the President’s determination that a prima facie case has been established in three petitions submitted to his office. A five-member committee has been constituted to probe the allegations, which include abuse of office and breaches of constitutional procedure.
While the Presidency has emphasized that the process is constitutional and not politically motivated, critics like Akosua Manu argue that the optics — especially considering Mahama’s past decisions regarding women in the judiciary — raise troubling questions.
Legal analysts and civil society groups are divided, with some supporting the need for accountability, while others warn of potential executive overreach.
The newly constituted committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang, is expected to begin its work in the coming days.
The Presidency maintains that the suspension is temporary and procedural, pending the outcome of the inquiry. However, debate over its implications for judicial independence and gender equity continues to grow.
