Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, has stated that the New Patriotic Party’s planned protest on Monday, May 5, is not aimed at defending suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, but is rather a bold stand against what the party sees as an ongoing erosion of judicial independence under the current government.
“For me, what the NPP is doing on Monday, May 5, is a protest against the destruction of the independence of the judiciary.
“It is not in defence of Torkonoo,” Mr. Darko said during an appearance on Channel One TV’s Big Issue on Saturday.
His comments come ahead of a joint demonstration organised by the NPP in collaboration with four other political parties.
The coalition has strongly condemned the suspension of Chief Justice Torkonoo, describing it as an unconstitutional overreach that threatens the foundational principles of Ghana’s democratic governance.
The controversy was sparked when President John Dramani Mahama, on Tuesday, April 22, announced the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkonoo after a prima facie case was established against her following three separate petitions for her removal.
The president’s action, which was taken by Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and after consultations with the Council of State, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures.
Mr. Darko emphasized that Monday’s protest is rooted in a broader concern about the separation of powers and the growing perception that the judiciary is being undermined by the executive.
