Barring any last-minute glitches, a coalition of political parties, including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), and People’s National Party (PNP), will hit the streets today, May 5, 2025, to protest what they perceive as the Mahama-led NDC administration’s attacks on the judiciary’s independence.
The decision follows a meeting held on April 24, 2025, where the parties resolved to register their displeasure over the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo by President John Dramani Mahama.
Clarifying NPP’s position, the MP for Suame, John Darko, explained that the planned protest dubbed ‘Save the Judiciary Demo’ is not in defence of the suspended CJ, but rather against the perceived attack on judicial independence.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s “The Big Issues” on Saturday, May 3, 2025, which was monitored by Ghanaian RADAR, he underscored that the NPP viewed the Mahama administration’s actions as a dangerous threat to the judiciary.
“For me, what the NPP is doing on Monday, May 5, is a protest against the destruction of the independence of the judiciary. It is not in defence of Torkonoo,” he said.
In a statement signed by the parties and issued on Friday, April 25, 2025, they stressed that their action was in defence of the Constitution to promote and safeguard the country’s cherished democracy.
“In an unwavering defence of Ghana’s constitutional order and judicial independence, political parties and well-meaning Ghanaians will be staging a nationwide demonstration in response to the unlawful suspension of the Chief Justice on Monday, May 5, 2025,” it said.
The political parties in their joint statement alleged that it was a blatant disregard for the rule of law which was not merely a political matter but rather an assault on the very soul of the country’s democracy.
“The disturbing trend of judicial intimidation by the NDC is not new.
The pattern is undeniable. A case in reference is the NDC’s failed plot in 2010 to remove Ghana’s first female Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood.
History is being repeated today,” it said.
It accused the NDC of being obsessed with capturing and controlling every arm of government, even the independent judiciary, which it said must be openly condemned.
It emphasised that the protest was a clarion call to all citizens to stand for justice, defend democracy and protect the constitutional order of the country. Adding that, it would not allow political power to “erode the foundations of our republic”.
It urged Ghanaians not to sit idly by while the independence of the judiciary was dismantled; while it also called on “all well-meaning political parties, civil society groups, Christian Council, Ghana Pentecostal Council, all religious groups and patriotic citizens to rise in protest against the unlawful and politically motivated suspension of the Chief Justice”.
It said the nationwide demonstration was not about politics, but about principle and protecting the Constitution as well as ensuring that the judiciary remains the last bastion of our democracy.
It also alleged that, “intelligence within political circles strongly suggests that efforts are already underway to petition for the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her deputies”.
It added that with an alleged handpicked Chief Justice potentially presiding over judicial decisions, “this move would pave the way for full political control over the country’s democratic institutions”.
“Even more concerning is what lies ahead: a covert plan to pursue constitutional interpretation at the Supreme Court once reconstituted with loyalist appointments to challenge the conventional reading of Article 66(2).”
“The ultimate goal is to legitimise John Mahama’s bid for a third term as President in the 2028 general election,” it said.
Story By: Dennis Ato Keelson
