A Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr. Isaac Darko, has disclosed that Ghana’s 1992 constitution needs immediate surgical attention following the circumstances that led to the dismissal of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
Speaking in an interview on Peace FM’s Midday News on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Dr. Darko noted that Ghana needs real separation of powers to protect its revered democracy.
Dr. Darko’s comment follows the dismissal of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, September 1, 2025, following an official handing over of 10,000-page documents by the committee set up by President Mahama in accordance with Article 146 (9) of the 1992 constitution.
The five-member committee, led by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, presented the full report to the President at the Flagstaff House, further recommending that Madam Torkornoo be removed as Chief Justice.
Reacting to the latest historical precedent, Dr. Darko argued that such an action could lead the country into what he describes as a “spoil system” where any President who comes into office would want to appoint his own Chief Justice. He posited that such situations could have dire consequences on our democracy.
“It is not every minor error that we apply the law. If you consider what was contained in the petitions, you could clearly see that these are not grave offenses that warrant the president setting up a committee after a prima facie has been established, and further heeding the recommendations of the committee”, Dr. Darko pointed out.
“The President would have helped greatly if he hadn’t set up the committee and taken further steps to dismiss the Chief Justice. This will worry the country in the near future. What is happening now is introducing what we call the “Spoil System”, as it happened in America”, he added.
He further added that this could even affect the confidence that investors reposed in Ghana’s democracy, stating that, “No investor would wake up to invest in any country without doing background checks on the state of the judicial system. The investor would question the security of his business if the judicial system is left in the hands of political players. If we are not careful, we will not get a single investment. We need to take precautions when making decisions that would have a lifelong impact on the country.”
Source: Peacefmoline
