President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday sought to allay growing concerns over the direction of Ghana’s democracy, following his administration’s removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo and the ruling party’s tightening grip on Parliament.
Speaking at his first formal media engagement since the dismissal, Mahama rejected speculation that the move signals a tilt toward authoritarianism, assuring Ghanaians that he remains committed to constitutional rule.
“Look in my face—do I look like a supreme leader?” Mahama said. “I’m a democrat, true and true.”
Justice Torkornoo was removed from office on Sept. 1 under Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, after a committee established under Article 146(6) upheld a petition filed by a private citizen, Daniel Ofori. The decision, which took immediate effect, has drawn criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures who question the timing and transparency of the process.
The controversy is further heightened by the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) newly acquired supermajority in Parliament. Political observers warn that the party could leverage its dominance to push through constitutional amendments—potentially paving the way for a third presidential term or further centralization of executive power.
Mahama dismissed such speculation, pointing to his party’s record and emphasizing restraint.
“Even when we attained two-thirds of Parliament, I said we’re not going to roughshod over the minority,” he said. “We are going to give an opportunity for democracy to flourish.”
The president insisted that the judiciary’s independence remains intact and that the Chief Justice’s removal was executed “strictly in line with constitutional provisions.”
“Certainly, I’m not on the way to becoming a supreme leader or an autocrat,” he added.
Despite Mahama’s assurances, opposition leaders and legal analysts have called for greater transparency in the judiciary’s internal disciplinary processes and for safeguards against what they see as the creeping politicization of independent institutions.
Ghana, long seen as a stable democracy in West Africa, faces mounting pressure to uphold its institutional checks and balances amid shifting political dynamics.
Source: TheDotNews