Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo
When the National Democratic Congress (NDC) represented by President John Mahama succeeds in removing Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office, a bad and dangerous precedence would have been set.
Democracy would have also suffered a major setback. With the plot in full flight, it would seem only a miracle can thwart the President’s desire.
Subsequent governments would take that step of replacing whoever they please to be their Chief Justice (CJ).
We can rightly pose the question as: to what end would this serve? Of course the whims of the President whose resetting agenda is ignoring all decent and acceptable standards within the bounds of democracy and the rule of law.
President Mahama’s efforts against the Chief Justice should be seen in broad terms as it encompasses the soul of democracy.
Where is this going to end? The removal of the CJ is part of a journey to a destination which is anything but in the interest of good governance and the rule of law. Herein lies the cause of our worries.
Anything which seeks to erode the proper functioning of the judiciary is injurious to democracy, and that is why we are worried and genuinely so.
An eroded judiciary is a depleted democracy and so all who prefer the enhancement of good governance to the contrary should stand up now and be counted among the cherishers of democracy and the real sense of an independent judiciary.
Before the Easter holidays, there was a deliberate spreading of news that all is set for the removal of the CJ, a part of the grand scheme. The story on social media was that she had been suspended.
This was followed by news about the establishment of a prima facie case against the lady who the NDC love to hate.
The use of social media in the plot is not surprising, as it is currently the most preferred means of testing the political waters and agenda setting.
For the first time in the history of polls in this country, we have observed a so-called survey to measure the popularity or otherwise of the CJ.
It is as if that position is an electable one. It is not, and the man who has allowed himself to be used as a pawn in the chess of NDC dirty manoeuvres should give us a break.
We have had enough of such tricks. We congratulate him for winning the lotto of the last elections and which makes him feel like a soothsayer whose words have come true.
He is currently doing another project for the NDC, as he embarks upon a so-called determination of the popularity or otherwise of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia among New Patriotic Party (NPP) faithful.
It is easy to tell that this is an NDC project. The results of the latest so-called polls on Dr. Bawumia is out and we find it interesting that it now shows that unlike a previous one, the popularity of the former Vice President is soaring. The guy is up to a trick working on a complex NDC political game.
The appointment of a CJ has never been hinged upon the outcome of polls among Ghanaians and should never be.
Let the President and his team have it as they deem fit regarding the removal of the CJ. Time, however, will tell whether or not their action was done in good spirit or out of political mischief.