Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has warned that any Chief Justice appointed under the John Mahama administration could face removal, citing the "crude" suspension of Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Saturday, May 3, Mustapha criticized the actions surrounding the suspension of the Chief Justice, suggesting that the move could set a dangerous precedent.
He emphasized that the removal of a sitting Chief Justice for political reasons would render the office of the Chief Justice politically vulnerable and subject to the whims of the ruling party. "Whether His Excellency John Dramani Mahama wants a third term or not, this is a crude way to go about it," Mustapha said.
He continued: "Because what essentially you are doing is making the office of the Chief Justice coterminous with the party in power." He told host Umaru Sanda Amadu that if the removal of the Chief Justice proceeds with backing from the committee, the NPP would not hesitate to remove any future Chief Justice appointed under the Mahama administration. "If you go ahead with what is going on, with the suspension that has been handed to her, and then a committee comes and says she should go, then anyone you bring, Umaru, by the grace of God, anytime we come into office, we'll remove any CJ you put there." Mustapha claimed there is already a petition awaiting any future Chief Justice under an NDC government, underscoring the political implications of a politicized judiciary.
