Former Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, has criticized the recent suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo by President John Dramani Mahama, warning that the move undermines the independence of Ghana’s judiciary and disrupts the balance of power between the branches of government.
Speaking as a guest at a public lecture organized by the Law Faculty SRC of Greenfield College in Sunyani, Mr. Tuah Yeboah said there was no justification for the Chief Justice’s removal.
“I have not seen any wrongdoing or misconduct on the part of the Chief Justice that would warrant such an action. The judiciary is a critical arm of government, and any interference from the executive undermines the strength of our democratic state,” he stated.
The lecture, themed “Whether the 1992 Constitution Has Outlived Its Use: Strengths and Weaknesses,” brought together students, legal scholars, and members of the public to examine the relevance of Ghana’s constitutional framework.
Addressing the issue of constitutional reform, Mr. Tuah Yeboah argued that the 1992 Constitution is not fundamentally flawed. Instead, he pointed to the attitudes and behaviors of citizens as the root of many governance challenges in the country.
“There’s nothing seriously wrong with the Constitution. What we need is a change in attitude. If Ghanaians take their civic responsibilities seriously, we wouldn’t even need a constitutional review,” he said.
He concluded by calling for greater behavioral and institutional discipline as key to strengthening Ghana’s governance systems and deepening democratic principles.
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