A coalition of political parties, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will stage a demonstration today, Monday, May 5, in what the NPP deems a politically motivated attack on judicial independence, following the controversial suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The protest will see party members and supporters march through the principal streets of Accra.
Other participating parties include the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), People’s National Party (PNP), Ghana Union Movement (GUM), among others.
The NPP says the action is in response to what it terms a “calculated and dangerous interference” in the judiciary’s operations by political actors affiliated with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, accused those behind the suspension of attempting to erode public trust in the judicial system.
He argued that the process leading to the Chief Justice’s suspension breached provisions of the 1992 Constitution and warned that allowing such actions to go unchallenged could set a dangerous precedent for the future of judicial independence in Ghana.
The planned demonstration has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters view it as a legitimate civic move to defend democratic institutions, while critics accuse the NPP of politicising a constitutional issue and using street protests to preempt legal proceedings.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has already condemned the suspension, describing it as unconstitutional and urging an immediate reversal of the decision.
However, some legal experts, including Dr. John Osae-Kwapong of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), argue that the current developments reflect constitutional processes and should be allowed to unfold.
As tensions rise, today’s protest is expected to become a key flashpoint in the broader legal and political standoff, with potential implications for Ghana’s governance and democratic trajectory ahead of the December general elections.
Meanwhile, security agencies have assured the public that they are prepared to ensure a peaceful protest, with measures in place to manage traffic and prevent any disturbances.
