President John Dramani Mahama and Gertrude Araba Torkonoo
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Trobu Constituency, Gloria Owusu, has taken a swipe at President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of failing to fulfill his promise of allocating 30% of appointments to women.
According to the Trobu lawmaker, the President’s failure to honour his promise is an attack on womanhood.
In an interview on Oyerepa TV on April 24, 2025, the Trobu legislator alleged that Mahama has demonstrated a lack of commitment to women’s advancement in leadership roles despite earlier campaign promises.
“John Dramani Mahama doesn’t like women; he hates women. Why am I saying this? When John Dramani Mahama was campaigning, he promised that if voted into power, he would allocate at least 30 percent of appointments to women. Today, I am asking, out of the 19 cabinet ministers, how many are women? Only two.”
She further noted that among the 16 regional ministers appointed, only three are women, calling the situation disappointing given Mahama’s pledge to promote gender equality.
The MP also criticised Mahama for what she described as attacks against the current Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
“For someone to rise to become a Chief Justice, see what they are doing to her,” she lamented. “See what they are doing to Professor Naana Jane. Why?”
Her comment follows President Mahama’s suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following the establishment of a prima facie case against her.
The action was taken in accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State in relation to three petitions filed against the Chief Justice.
A statement dated Tuesday, April 22, 2025, explained, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, determined that a prima facie case has been established in respect of three petitions against the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.”
It further stated that the President had set up a five-member committee to investigate the petitions. The members of the committee are:
•Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice of the Supreme Court (Chairman)
•Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice of the Supreme Court (Member)
•Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Former Auditor-General (Member)
•Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, Ghana Armed Forces (Member)
•Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor, University of Ghana (Member)
“Pursuant to Article 146(10) of the Constitution and in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, the President has, by a warrant, suspended the Chief Justice with immediate effect pending the outcome of the committee’s proceedings,” the statement added.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, born on September 11, 1962, in Cape Coast, was sworn in as Ghana’s 15th Chief Justice on June 12, 2023, by then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, becoming the third woman to hold the position.
She joined the judiciary in 2004, was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019, and has been credited with driving reforms such as the E-Justice system. Justice Torkornoo is also an accomplished author and poet.
Watch the interview from 1:46:00 minute
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