The ongoing discussions surrounding the alleged leaked petition for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo has raised significant controversies among political figures and media personalities in Ghana. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, popularly known as “General Mosquito” has recently voiced out his concerns also.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), has openly stated that he questions the authenticity of this purported document.
According to various reports, three petitions allegedly submitted to President Mahama for the Chief Justice’s removal have surfaced publicly. In a press conference, John Darko, the MP for Suame and Legal Counsel for the Minority Caucus, addressed these petitions, labeling the accusations as “flimsy and politically motivated.”
John Darko emphasized that the claims, including that the Chief Justice had undue influence over judicial promotions and presided over contentious cases—lack substantial merit. “We see the spurious petition for the removal of the Chief Justice as a serious setback to our democratic journey,” he remarked.
Media discussions surrounding the leaked petition gained momentum recently in Ghana. Notable personalities like Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah, and Paul Adom Otchere delved into the petition’s contents on their shows. However, Mr. Asiedu Nketia’s skepticism reflects a broader concern about the potential for misinformation in the media space. According to Asiedu Nketia, these are false claims and, such false claims should be totally ignored.
CJ Torkornoo removal: NDC National Chairman not convinced the leaked petition is authentic pic.twitter.com/iotN2rDXGG
— Radio Gold 90.5FM (@radiogold905fm) April 20, 2025
In an interview without Radio Gold, Asiedu Nketia said, “I am not convinced that the petition to remove the Chief Justice has been leaked. What proves that what is circulating is not fabricated?” He emphasized the necessity of verifying such documents with official sources before drawing conclusions.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia recounted a similar experience from the past when the media reported on a report from the Kwesi Botchwey Committee on the NDC’s electoral defeat in 2016. He noted that while only three copies of the final report existed, media outlets published extensive stories as if they had direct access to the document.
“I’ve been through this before—when we established the Kwesi Botchwey Committee to look into the NDC’s loss in the 2016 election. Only three copies of the final revised report were printed, and I was the only one who kept a copy. However, the Daily Guide and the Searchlight started publishing stories as if they had the report. What they had was not the actual report. Sometimes, people simply want to stir up a public reaction, leading you to either confirm something false or inadvertently disclose the truth,” Asiedu Nketia recounted.
