NPP Lawyer Condemns Treatment of Suspended Chief Justice

Ishaq Ibrahim, a governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) member and lawyer, has denounced the conditions of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s removal proceedings, alleging deliberate attempts to “unsettle” and “frustrate” Ghana’s top judge.

His criticism centers on the hearing venue and security protocols imposed on Torkornoo.

Speaking on Asaase Radio’s The Forum on June 28, Ibrahim questioned the Judicial Council’s choice of Adu Lodge for hearings, noting the Chief Justice’s claim that the location triggers childhood trauma. “Are we saying throughout the republic we cannot find any other place?” he asked, asserting the selection was intentionally destabilizing.

Ibrahim further condemned physical security checks on Torkornoo as degrading: “This is the head of a branch of government… Even criminal suspects get family support.” He attributed procedural flaws directly to President Mahama’s administration, countering critics who accuse Torkornoo of breaching confidentiality by speaking publicly. “Whose doorstep should we fault? It is the President,” he stated.

The remarks amplify scrutiny of proceedings that Torkornoo has labeled a “grand conspiracy.” While the Attorney-General maintains constitutional adherence, the NPP continues framing the suspension as political retaliation. The Judicial Council has yet to respond to venue or security complaints.