Former parliamentary candidate and prominent voice within the New Patriotic Party, Akosua Manu, has sounded an urgent warning about what she describes as a coordinated political manoeuvre aimed at capturing Ghana’s judiciary. Her remarks come in the wake of the controversial suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, a move that has gripped the nation’s attention and fuelled intense public discourse.
Speaking passionately on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily programme on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Manu expressed her deep concern that the suspension was more than just a reaction to petitions—it is, in her view, the beginning of a broader scheme designed to alter the makeup and independence of the country’s judicial system. She warned that what appears on the surface as a legal procedure may in fact be a strategic play to sideline judicial figures who do not align with certain political interests.
Describing the suspension as the first of many steps in a planned reset of the judiciary, Manu claimed that Chief Justice Torkornoo is merely the first in a line of high-ranking judicial officials who may face removal. In her words, “She is not ultimately the target… the EC will be a casualty, but ultimately the Supreme Court judges.” Her statement paints a stark picture of what she believes is a domino effect, where other key figures within Ghana’s democratic institutions could be next in line for removal or replacement.
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The suspension, announced by President John Dramani Mahama on April 22, followed the establishment of a prima facie case from three separate petitions. The action was taken in line with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and involved consultation with the Council of State. However, Akosua Manu maintained that the legal basis alone does not capture the full implications of this development. She stressed that while the constitutional procedure may have been followed, the wider political motive is what truly endangers the future integrity of the judiciary.
She did not hold back in highlighting the potential consequences, asserting that individuals deemed unlikely to cooperate with a political agenda might be systematically removed and replaced. “Justice will be subverted,” she said, cautioning that this perceived threat to judicial independence is not just a matter for politicians or lawyers—it should concern every Ghanaian citizen who values democracy and fair governance.
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Manu’s passionate appeal served as a call to action, warning the public not to downplay or ignore what she described as a carefully orchestrated effort to realign power in the country. She cautioned against the mindset of indifference, where citizens dismiss political shifts as irrelevant to their personal lives, noting ominously, “They are coming for you.”
As national conversations around the Chief Justice’s suspension continue to unfold, Akosua Manu’s assertions have added a compelling and urgent voice to the debate. Her comments highlight the growing concern among sections of the population that the very foundation of judicial independence may be at stake.
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