Alexander Afenyo-Markin Reacts to Gertrude Torkornoo's Removal: "We Are Mourning Democracy"
- Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticised the dismissal of the now former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo by President John Mahama
- He described the move as unjust and accused the ruling NDC of undermining Ghana’s enviable democracy
- Justice Torkornoo was removed after a five-member committee found her guilty of alleged misconduct and misbehaviour
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The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has reacted to the dismissal of Gertrude Torkornoo as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.
On Monday, September 1, 2025, President John Mahama relieved Mrs Torkornoo of her duties in line with Article 149 of the constitution.
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This follows a recommendation by the five-member inquiry committee set up to probe petitions filed against the former chief justice.
The committee found her guilty of alleged misbehaviour, such as the abuse of power and misuse of public funds.
Her removal from office sparked mixed reactions within the Ghanaian political space, with members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporting the decision, while those in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) spoke against it.
Afenyo-Markin, who is the MP for Efutu on the ticket of the NPP, described the decision to oust the Chief Justice as "unjust," suggesting that Ghana's enviable democracy was under attack.
Speaking to a GHOne TV reporter at Akwatia, he chastised the Chairman of the committee for the recommendation to sack Gertrude Torkornoo.
"We are mourning democracy. You claim that you have charges against the Chief Justice, so you are done with count one. You have counts two and three not done, and then you say you have dismissed the person. That's the work of the Pwamang Committee? That's what Pwamang did as a judge?"
He, however, promised that the NPP Minority side in Parliament would deal with the issue at the right time, probably after the Akwatia by-election.
Afenyo-Markin made these remarks at Akwatia while leading a team of NPP parliamentarians to monitor the by-elections.
Afenyo-Markin acccused of inciting violence at Akwatia
Meanwhile, the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin is reported to have caused a near-violent clash at Akwatia during the by-election.
He is alleged to have led a group of boys to illegally remove campaign posters of the NDC's parliamentary candidate, Bernard Bediako Baidoo.
The incident escalated outside the NDC party office in Akwatia, amid heated exchanges, drawing a large crowd to the scene.
Consequently, the police quickly rushed to the scene and arrested one person for allegedly inciting violence.
However, the NDC's Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka, in the company of his boys, stormed the party office, allegedly threatening to deal with the Minority Leader if he had met him at the scene.
“Afenyo-Markin is fortunate. Had I encountered him here in Akwatia, there would have been a by-election in Effutu,” he said.
Security expert slams leaders for Akwatia chaos
Yakub Alfa Suleiman, the founder of the Journalists Network for Peace and Security (JNePS), condemned Sofo Azorka for his irresponsible comments.
The security expert also questioned Afenyo-Markin's visit to the NDC party office on Election Day, suggesting it was intended to incite chaos.
Suleiman further emphasised that leaders should know better and act responsibly, especially during tense situations like elections.
“Such irresponsible comments should be condemned, especially coming from our leaders.But before that, why did Afenyo-Markin go to the NDC party office? For what reason, if not to cause chaos? Of all days, why did he choose today to visit an opposition party office? On an Election Day when the whole atmosphere is tense. As leaders, we should know and do better,” he said.
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Circumstances leading to Gertrude Torkornoo's dismissal
The move to dismiss Mrs Torkornoo was initiated after a Ghanaian citizen, Daniel Ofori, submitted a petition to the President on March 17, 2025, accusing her of misconduct and misbehaviour.
Subsequently, President Mahama suspended her following a prima facie case established by the Council of State in response to three separate petitions demanding her removal.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President appointed Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the Acting Chief Justice.
The statement further disclosed that a five-member committee, chaired by a Supreme Court judge, Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, had been constituted to investigate the allegations against the now ousted Chief Justice.
Other members of the committee were Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice of the Supreme Court, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, former Auditor-General, Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo from the Ghana Armed Forces, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor, University of Ghana.
On September 1, the committee submitted its report to President Mahama and recommended the sacking of Mrs Torkornoo.
Source: Getty Images
Torkornoo removed from Supreme Court bench
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported earlier that Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was no longer a justice of the Supreme Court after sanctions by President John Mahama.
President Mahama signed an order confirming her removal from the bench, as well as her sacking from the Chief Justice's office.
Torkornoo had been found to have engaged in the unlawful expenditure of public funds, among other acts.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
