Retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice William Atuguba, has dismissed claims that the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was part of a grand political scheme to reset the judiciary.
He maintained that President John Dramani Mahama’s decision was rooted in the Constitution and should be regarded as a legitimate act of governance rather than a political vendetta.
In an interview with Joy News, Justice Atuguba explained: “When parties are contesting elections, don’t they have their manifestos as to what they will come and do when elected into power? So, when they are elected and they are implementing the manifesto, what’s wrong with it? It is premeditated and endorsed by the voters.
“You mean somebody should just come to power without any programme for running the country? The important question is not when. I remember, before the elections, I used to say here that the judiciary needed restructuring. And after the election, I said it.”
His comments come amid heightened political tensions, with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) accusing the government of undermining judicial independence. The NPP has also threatened that, if returned to power, it would consider removing judges appointed under the current administration—an approach Justice Atuguba strongly condemned.
He described the opposition’s stance as reckless, noting that the same constitutional provision—“stated misbehaviour”—had previously been used to remove former Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei and former CHRAJ Commissioner Lauretta Vivian Lamptey without any objection from the NPP.
“This type of thing, is it commendable? That means they will do it irrespective of the performance of the next Chief Justice. That is the mindset of some of these politicians. Some don’t care. It’s just the power they want and their way,” he lamented.
“Don’t forget that Charlotte Osei and the CHRAJ Commissioner, one lady, [Madam Lamptey], it was under the same conditions, the same provisions, stated misbehaviour. And is it not these people who did it? At that time, did they have trouble with what stated misbehaviour is? Why suddenly, when their appointee is involved in the same thing, they say hey?” he questioned.
Justice Atuguba also pushed back against suggestions that the Chief Justice’s removal was an act of political revenge.
“Payback is something that cannot be justified. But if it is justified, where is the payback? Or if it’s a payback, it’s correct payback,” he remarked.
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