A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team, Hamza Suhuyini, has affirmed that President John Dramani Mahama will uphold the rule of law and respect the outcome of any court ruling regarding the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, even if the decision goes against the interests of the government.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, May 7, Suhuyini emphasised the NDC’s commitment to due process and judicial independence in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Chief Justice’s suspension.
“The fact that Paul Baffoe Bonnie is the acting CJ doesn’t mean that he will be the substantive CJ if Torkornoo’s suspension is upheld and eventually removed from office. The same courts have held and continue to defend that when it comes to the administrative justice of the Chief Justice, the principles of natural justice do not apply. So this strange legal gymnastics being adopted by the NPP is quite surprising to us,” he said.
Chief Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, after a prima facie case was established against her following petitions submitted by a private citizen, a police officer, and the civil society group Shining Stars of Ghana.
In response, a five-member committee has been formed to investigate the matter under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution.
The suspension has sparked sharp criticism from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which has petitioned the Presidency, Parliament, and the Judiciary to reverse the decision. The Ghana Bar Association has also called for the revocation of the suspension.
Addressing these reactions, Suhuyini noted that the judiciary remains under the stewardship of judges appointed by previous administrations and that they can consult the court on the situation at hand, for President Mahama is open to any directive from the court.
“Again, the courts are there. We have not put in place a single judge. These are the people they appointed for the good people of the country, and they are those still manning the judicial system.
“Let Godfred Dame and the NPP and probably Dr. Bawumia go and deal with the legal process, and if they are successful, they should be assured that President Mahama would respect the outcome of any court decision, even if it goes against the interest of his government or the NDC,” he added.