Ghana protesters accuse president of power grab after chief justice's suspension
Hundreds of opposition protesters dressed in red and black have condemned a decision by Ghana's president to suspend the country's chief justice, and are demanding that she be reinstated with immediate effect.
They accuse President John Mahama of violating the constitution by failing to follow due process, and say he is interfering in the independence of the judiciary.
Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from her post last week pending investigations into her conduct - the first time a chief justice has been suspended in Ghana's history.
Action was taken after the president said three people had sent petitions to him containing undisclosed allegations against Chief Justice Torkornoo.
Monday's demonstration in Accra was led by the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were in power when Chief Justice Torkornoo was appointed by then-president Nana Akufo-Addo two years ago.
The NPP's national organiser Nana Boakye Yiadom told the BBC her treatment was politically motivated and an attack on democracy.
Also taking part in the protests were three smaller opposition groups.
The opposition's demands echo those made by the Ghana Bar Association last week. The grouping of top legal professionals said suspending the chief justice was unconstitutional and President Mahama must reverse it.
But that view is not shared by all.
A number of lawyers in the country argue it is within the president's power to act when there is evidence of misconduct by a public officer, no matter the position. This view is also backed by the president's supporters.
By law, chief justices in Ghana enjoy security of tenure, which means that they remain in office until retirement.
Yet Ghana's constitution does empower the president to appoint, suspend or even fire the chief justice where there is evidence of wrongdoing, including incompetence and misbehaviour. However some Ghanaians argue due process has not been followed in this instance.
One protester, Serwaa Akoto, told the BBC: "The judiciary is under attack and we want the right thing to be done. Why is he suspending the chief justice?"
Also at the protest was Charles Oteng, who told the BBC: "We want to send a strong signal to the president. Yes, indeed, he has all the powers as a president, but the way he is attacking our judiciary is very alarming - and we the youth will not sit for him to do whatever he wants to do."
Chief Justice Torkornoo is the third woman to hold the position in Ghana. Since winning power, Mahama's National Democratic Congress has stepped up accusations of bias in her rulings of high profile political cases, which she denies.
She is expected to be summoned to answer questions in person in front of a committee investigating the allegations against her.
'An African pope would be inspirational'
'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me'
Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Africa Daily
Focus on Africa
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A smuggled North Korean smartphone reveals how the regime censors information, including screenshotting users activities every five minutes
A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea sheds light on how the regime tightly censors content. Measures include automatically replacing popular South Korean words with regime-approved terms and recording screenshots of user activity for officials to review. A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea has given a glimpse into how Kim Jong Un's regime censors information in the isolated and secretive country. The phone, which was smuggled out of the country late last year by a Seoul-based media organization, Daily NK, and later obtained by the BBC, was programmed to censor certain language and record screenshots of the user's activity. The smartphone does not have access to the internet as North Korea blocks information from outside the country. According to a BBC report, the smartphone takes screenshots of the user's actions every five minutes and saves them in a file the user can see but not open. Only the North Korean authorities can open the files, allowing them to review what users are looking at. Popular South Korean words like 'oppa,' which literally translates to big brother but has become South Korean slang for a boyfriend, are automatically replaced with the word 'comrade.' Users also receive a warning; in this example, it said: 'This word can only be used to describe your siblings.' The Korean word for 'South Korea' is also replaced with 'puppet state.' This reflects a broader effort by the regime to eliminate South Korean cultural influence and control citizens, even down to how people speak. North Korea is one of the most isolated and authoritarian countries in the world and has been ruled by the Kim dynasty since its founding in 1948. The regime maintains strict control over its population through surveillance, propaganda, and an extensive network of informants. Citizens are cut off from the global internet, and even minor infractions, such as watching foreign media, can result in severe punishment. Recently, South Korea has been smuggling more foreign content into the neighboring state as part of a covert 'information war.' The aim is to expose North Koreans to the outside world, especially what life is like for people in South Korea, who experience more freedom and wealth. South Korea and various NGOs employ multiple tactics to do this, including blaring loudspeakers at the border and secretly distributing USB sticks and SD cards filled with K-dramas, pop songs, and pro-democracy material into North Korea. The underground effort is run by NGOs like Unification Media Group (UMG). North Korea has intensified its crackdowns in response, enforcing stricter laws, surveillance, executions, and 'youth crackdown squads' that police citizens' behavior and language. Efforts to smuggle the restricted information into North Korea have also been impacted by President Trump's cuts to foreign aid projects. The administration has reduced funding for key media projects that are working on getting information into the country, like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Daily T: Why it matters that Britain is becoming less white
A stark new report suggests the white British population could become a minority in the UK within the next 40 years. 73 per cent of the British population is white, but is predicted to drop to 57 per cent by 2050. Camilla and Gordon are joined by Professor Matt Goodwin, who led the research, to unpack what the data tells us about the UK's changing demographics, why these shifts are happening, and what they could mean for the country's future. Elsewhere, Donald Trump's administration has renewed their attacks on the BBC over its coverage of Gaza, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt accusing the corporation taking 'the word of Hamas with total truth', an allegation the broadcaster denies. Camilla and Gordon speak to former BBC director of television Danny Cohen, who agrees with the US President, saying that the broadcaster's coverage is 'driving hate' towards Israel and Jews, and that there are 'two tiers of racism at the BBC'. Watch episodes of the Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
DR Congo bans reporting on ex-President Kabila
The Congolese government has banned the media from reporting on the activities of former President Joseph Kabila and interviewing members of his party. This comes after Kabila returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo last month amid heightened tensions between himself and the government, led by his successor, President Félix Tshisekedi. The authorities are pushing to prosecute Mr Kabila amid accusations of treason and alleged links to the M23 rebels which have been fighting the army - something he has previously denied. Breaches of the ban could result in suspension, said the head of DR Congo's media regulator, Christian Bosembe. Responding to the announcement by the regulator, known as the the Supreme Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), an M23 spokesperson said the media outlets in parts of the country under its control would not abide by the ban. There has been no immediate response from Kabila, however, the secretary of his party, Ferdinand Kambere, rejected the ban, describing it as "arbitrary" on X. Kabila was last week seen in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, which is under M23 control. He has been highly critical of the government after the senate voted to lift his immunity over his alleged support of the M23 group. DR Congo's neighbour, Rwanda has been accused of backing the rebel group, but Kigali denies this. Kabila, who has not yet been charged with any crime, launched a scathing attack on the Congolese government last month, describing it as a "dictatorship". A government spokesperson at the time rejected Kabila's criticism, saying he had "nothing to offer". Reacting to the announcement by the CSAC, activist and president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights, Jean-Claude Katende, said the ban constituted an "abuse of power", according to local media. Meanwhile, political analyst Ambroise Mamba indicated on X that the ban could be self-defeating because it could pique people's interest to find out about Kabila's movements and activities. Since returning to DR Congo after two years of self-imposed exile, Kabila's party has been posting his activities online, which include visiting civil society groups and local religious representatives in Goma. Additional reporting from BBC Monitoring. What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo Is Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
