The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has hinted that the pending removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo is linked to alleged plans to enable President John Dramani Mahama to contest for a third presidential term.
He says discussions around this matter are already circulating and will soon become public knowledge.
Speaking in an interview on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on April 24, 2025, he explained that the argument revolves around Article 66(2) of the Constitution, with some individuals allegedly planning to interpret it in a way that suggests the two-term limit applies only to two successive terms.
This interpretation, he said, would pave the way for President Mahama to contest again.
“I am telling you, certain people plan to interpret Article 66(2) of the Constitution to mean that the two-term limit refers to two successive terms. Therefore, because Mahama contested and lost before winning later, they argue that he is eligible to contest again since his terms were not successive,” he stated.
“Mark today’s date, April 24, 2025, we will return to this issue. If that were not the case, the Chief Justice would not have been asked to stay home based on a frivolous petition,” Kodua added.
His 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.
Despite the wild assertion by the NPP General Secretary, Ghana’s Constitution allows a person to serve as president for a maximum of two four-year terms, whether consecutive or not.
President Mahama first assumed office in 2012 following the death of President Atta Mills. He then won the 2012 election to serve his first full term.
He lost his re-election bid in 2016. Since he has served only one elected term, he remains eligible to serve a second elected term under the Constitution.
AM/SEA
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