Renowned investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, urging Ghanaians to prioritize accountability over partisan loyalty.
In a strongly worded social media post made on Monday, May 5, 2025, Manasseh cautioned against blind allegiance to the independence of institutions, particularly the judiciary, at the expense of accountability.
He acknowledged the constitutional safeguards protecting the tenure of key public officeholders but argued that such protections should not translate into immunity from scrutiny or consequence.
“The framers of our constitution were wise enough to secure the tenure of some sensitive public institutions… but security of tenure and immunity from accountability are not synonymous,” he wrote.
Citing his book “The President Ghana Never Got”, Manasseh described the judiciary, particularly under recent leadership, as having failed to uphold the ideals of impartiality and integrity.
He labeled the judiciary an “accomplice” of former President Nana Akufo-Addo in some instances, and lamented the institution’s inability to act as a meaningful check on executive overreach.
“There are excellent judges dispensing justice in our courts, but the leadership of the judiciary and the Supreme Court have not left much to be desired over the years,” he noted.
Amid growing political debate over the Chief Justice’s suspension—widely viewed through the lens of NDC-NPP rivalry—Manasseh called for a shift in focus.
He urged the public to demand fairness in the process but to also accept that the judiciary must not be exempt from the principles of transparency and justice it is meant to uphold.
“If our judiciary had a mind of its own… some of the political excesses would be curtailed,” he said, adding that accountability is a “necessary guardrail against the tyranny of what is supposed to be the most sacred institution in our country.”
The petition for the removal of Chief Justice Torkornoo has triggered widespread debate, with supporters and critics alike invoking constitutional principles and institutional integrity.
Manasseh’s comments add a powerful voice to the conversation, calling for a more principled and less partisan engagement with the issue.
