President John Dramani Mahama and suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Torkornoo
Former Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has questioned President John Dramani Mahama over the suspension and possible removal of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Torkornoo.
According to her, the basis on which the Chief Justice has suffered the suspension lacks substance and does not justify such a decision.
Speaking in an interview on Movement TV on May 17, 2025, Abubakar questioned the president’s treatment of the Chief Justice, asking whether he would be pleased if he were subjected to the same actions.
She also asserted that some of the reasons cited against the Chief Justice could equally apply to the President himself, should a removal process be initiated against him.
“President Mahama, if what he is doing is done to him, would he be happy? Or we sit in this country and pretend we don’t know that the President’s spouse uses state funds to purchase flight tickets for her travels?” she asked.
She continued, “I am saying this based on the fact that the Chief Justice is not an administrative officer for the Executive. The Chief Justice is the head of the Judiciary, and all judicial power is vested in the Judiciary, as stated in Article 125(3) of the Constitution.”
Abubakar further argued that if someone were to file impeachment proceedings against the President for allowing the First Lady, who holds no elected or constitutionally mandated position, to use state funds for travel, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would strongly protest.
“Today, I ask: should someone file impeachment proceedings against the president because the First Lady, whom we have neither voted for nor appointed to any official position, is using state funds to purchase flight tickets for her travels?
“Yet, when this happens, it is only the young NDC members who raise concerns about her flying business class.”
AM/KA