Legal Counsel for the Minority, John Darko, has cautioned against attempts to remove the Chief Justice, citing potential threats to Ghana’s constitutional democracy. Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Mr. stated that the judiciary’s crucial role as the last bastion of independence in the country.
“We believe that as a country, the only institution left which is still independent, is still standing and sacrosanct is the judiciary,” Darko stated. He expressed concerns that initiating removal proceedings against the Chief Justice could set a perilous precedent, allowing incoming governments to exploit petitions and target the judiciary for political gain.
“It is a worry that we are expressing that the moment that we begin this process it is a serious slope that we are getting our country into,” Darko warned. “It will be that every political party when it wins the election is going to get people to write a petition for us to remove the Chief Justice.”
Darko highlighted Ghana’s history of stable judicial practices under the 1992 Constitution, where presidents have worked seamlessly with Chief Justices appointed by their predecessors. “Kufour met CJ appointed by former president Rawlings. He appointed a CJ and when President John Evans Atta Mills came, he worked with the CJ until the CJ went on retirement,” he illustrated.
“Our CJs have always retired after they have finished their terms. We should allow that to continue,” Darko added, urging the nation to preserve this tradition to safeguard Ghana’s constitutional democracy.
