Old Tafo Member of Parliament, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, says the body language of Deputy Chief of Staff, Stan Dogbe, during the petition presentation on Monday signaled political retaliation by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The protest, led by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with support from other political parties, was against the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
Protesters marched through the streets of Accra before presenting a petition to the Presidency.
Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who addressed the crowd, warned that political revenge could have long-term consequences.
Stan Dogbe, who received the petition on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, rejected accusations that the President had breached the Constitution.
He maintained that all actions taken regarding the petitions against the Chief Justice were in full compliance with the law.
But Mr. Assafuah, speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, said otherwise. “I watched Stan Dogbe more than three times. His body language alone showed clearly that this is retaliation. He just wanted to show us that power is now in their hands and they can also do what they want” he said.
The MP, who has filed a suit challenging the legal process initiated by the President, also claimed that President Mahama’s actions are being tolerated because of the goodwill he still enjoys from the 2024 elections
“President Mahama is getting away with this because of the political capital he’s enjoying post-election. Otherwise, this would not be acceptable in any democracy. With the kind of experience he has, I didn’t expect him to go that route,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has, by a 3–2 majority decision, dismissed an application for an injunction against the petition process, allowing proceedings against Chief Justice Torkornoo to continue.
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