By Ahmed M. Gedel
BY ALL ACCOUNTS, former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s sudden appearance before the press, draped in wounded solemnity, marks a dramatic twist in Ghana’s constitutional journey.
But let us not mistake performance for principle. Her grievances articulated in four emotionally charged claims demand not sympathy but scrutiny.
This is not an attack on the judiciary. It is its finest defense: No gavel, however gilded, is above the law.
1. It Is Historic, and the Stakes Are High, Precisely Why It Must Proceed
Madam Torkornoo describes her removal process as “historic.” Indeed, it is. But not in the tragic tone she implies. It is historic because, at last, no office is too sacred for public accountability.
Yes, the stakes are high. That is the price of constitutional courage. In every democracy that matures, there comes a moment when even the judiciary must face the mirror—and not the podium.
This isn’t an assault on judicial independence. It is a tribute to constitutional fidelity. If the Constitution can shield her ascent, it must also govern her descent—when necessary.
2. “Far-Reaching Implications” – For Integrity, Not Instability
She warns of “far-reaching implications.” We agree—but not in the way she hopes.
The implications are monumental: Judges, like legislators and presidents, will be reminded that robes do not replace responsibility. Judicial dignity does not flow from insulation—it flows from accountability.
If this process causes future judges to tread more cautiously, to act with tempered wisdom, then Ghana’s democracy has not weakened. It has deepened.
3. “Constitutional Violations” – Allegations Must Meet Evidence
The claim of constitutional breaches demands a courtroom, not a press room. No one who has worn the cloak of Chief Justice should traffic in unsubstantiated insinuations. To suggest that the process was illegal, without citing precise clauses, is to cast doubt not only on Parliament and the Executive but on the very framework she once swore to uphold.
Constitutionalism is not a garment one removes when it pinches. It is the skin of public office binding, enduring, and inescapable.
4. “Calls for Resignation and Threats” – The Burden of the Throne
To be called to resign is not persecution; it is politics. To receive threats is inexcusable, but it does not nullify lawful procedure.
Public service is not a sanctuary, it is a crucible. And the Chief Justice, more than any, must bear the full heat of public expectation and constitutional scrutiny. If there were credible threats, the nation would defend her safety. But safety and scrutiny are not mutually exclusive.
The Constitution is not a veil behind which one hides; it is a light under which one is judged.
A Final Word: Ghana Must Choose the Constitution Over Sentiment
Let us be clear: This is not about Torkornoo the woman. It is about the office she held and the obligations that came with it. Her performance before the press, styled in the language of martyrdom, does not exonerate. It distracts.
But Ghana must not blink. We must not be swayed by tears where law must prevail.
If the process falters now because of history, or emotion, or noise. we risk erecting a new monarchy behind courtroom doors. And that, we cannot afford.
The Constitution must stand not as a shield for the powerful but as a sword for the people.Let the gavel weep if it must. But let the Republic remain unshaken.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
