The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has hinted that the controversial suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo is tied to possible plans for John Dramani Mahama to seek a third term in office. This claim has raised a significant debate among Ghanaian political circles.
He mentioned that conversations about this issue are already underway and will soon be shared with the public.
He elaborated that the debate centers on Article 66 (2) of the Constitution, with some people reportedly intending to argue that the two-term limit only applies to consecutive terms.
According to him, this interpretation could potentially allow President John Dramani Mahama to run for office again.
“I want to emphasize that some individuals intend to interpret Article 66 (2) of the Constitution to suggest that the two-term limit pertains only to consecutive terms. Consequently, they argue that since John Dramani Mahama previously contested and lost, he should be eligible to run again because his terms were not consecutive,” Kodua stated.
“Mark your calendars for April 24, 2025; we will revisit this matter. If that weren’t the case, the Chief Justice would not have been asked to stay out of this issue based on what they consider a baseless petition,” he added.
This situation becomes more complex with the recent suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo. On April 22, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama announced her suspension following a finding of a prima facie case in relation to three petitions against her. This was executed in line with Article 146 (6) of the 1992 Constitution after consulting with the Council of State.
It was also announced that the President has formed a five-member committee to look into the petitions. The members of this committee include:
– Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice of the Supreme Court (Chairman)
– Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice of the Supreme Court (Member)
– Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Former Auditor-General (Member)
– Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, Ghana Armed Forces (Member)
– Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor, University of Ghana (Member)
Justice Torkornoo, who took office as Ghana’s 15th Chief Justice in June 2023, is recognized for her judicial reforms, particularly the E-Justice system aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the judiciary. Her suspension by President John Dramani Mahama raises questions about judicial independence and its potential impact on the upcoming political landscape.
