Ghana’s opposition kicks against Chief Justice’s suspension

AES countries set up radio station to counter Western propaganda   President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to suspend Ghana’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has sparked widespread criticism from opposition parties and the National Assembly. Justice Torkornoo was suspended on Tuesday following undisclosed complaints submitted to the president. Opposition groups, including smaller parties, have condemned […]

• AES countries set up radio station to counter Western propaganda

 

President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to suspend Ghana’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has sparked widespread criticism from opposition parties and the National Assembly.

Justice Torkornoo was suspended on Tuesday following undisclosed complaints submitted to the president.

Opposition groups, including smaller parties, have condemned the move, labeling it as politically motivated and an attempt to undermine the judiciary’s independence.

They accuse the president of interfering in the judiciary and attempting to install judges sympathetic to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The controversy has escalated, with multiple cases now filed in the Supreme Court challenging the president’s authority to suspend the Chief Justice.

President John Mahama’s administration claims the suspension is necessary to allow a fair investigation.

Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame condemned the action as “the biggest assault on the judiciary in the nation’s history,” citing procedural missteps, including the delayed delivery of the petitions to the chief justice.

Torkornoo, who was appointed in 2023 as Ghana’s third female chief justice, has not publicly responded to the allegations.

A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the claims, with two additional petitions emerging after the suspension.

The controversy has intensified the debate over judicial independence in Ghana, as the nation awaits the outcome of the investigation.

In another development, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, members of the Alliance of the Sahel (AES), have unveiled plans to launch a joint radio station.

The three nations, all currently under military rule, emphasised that the initiative is aimed at countering foreign propaganda and delivering “authentic information” to their citizens.

This announcement follows the December 2024 debut of their joint internet television station, which they described as a platform designed to “combat disinformation.”

In addition to these media projects, the alliance has previously expressed ambitions to establish a regional airline and an investment bank, further signaling their commitment to fostering cooperation and development among the member states.