#SaveTheJudiciaryDemo: 'Council of State has failed the country' – Afenyo-Markin

The Leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has called out the Council of States for their role in the ongoing process to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Speaking at the ‘Save The Judiciary Demonstration’ on May 5, 2025, the MP for Effutu Constituency described the attempt to remove the Chief Justice as an attack on the judiciary.

According to him, the protest has become necessary to resist a move by the executive, which in his estimation, constitutes a disregard for democracy and the rule of law.

“We are here to protest the executive’s intimidation and interference in our judicial system. We are here as citizens of Ghana encouraged by the constitution to express and present our petition in a peaceful manner.

“And we believe that what is happening undermines our democracy and rule of law. This morning, we are before you and our mission is very simple; to protest the executive’s intimidation, and interference of this very institution,” he said.

He argued that the judiciary must be protected and treated as a branch of government, which is neutral in its operations.

“We are political actors. The judiciary is supposed to be a neutral actor in this democratic dispensation and the judiciary is our last hope,” he said.

He lashed out at the Council of State for aiding the executive in the process to remove the Chief Justice from office.

“For the Chief Justice to be singled out for this unfortunate attack based on some flimsy, pedestrian petitions - the Council of State has failed the country.

“We want you as an institution to put aside your individual differences and know that it is an institution that is under attack. Maybe today it is Torkornoo - maybe tomorrow my respected friend, it could be you,” he said.

The demonstration by a coalition of political parties, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has argued that the suspension of CJ is politically motivated and an attack on judicial independence, following the controversial suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Other participating parties include the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), People’s National Party (PNP), among others.

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has already condemned the suspension, describing it as unconstitutional and urging an immediate reversal of the decision.

Watch the video below:



VPO/AE