A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former parliamentary aspirant in the Adenta Constituency, Akosua Asaa Manu, has penned an open letter to the Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman to intervene in the ongoing persecution of the Current Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
Read Full Statement:
As Ghanaians, we are no strangers to spirited political discourse. Our democracy, while young by global standards, has weathered tense elections, passionate debates, and growing civic engagement. But even within such a vibrant landscape, there must remain sacred lines—lines around dignity, justice, and the institutions that bind our republic together.
It is within this context that I write today, disturbed by the escalating treatment of Chief Justice Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkornoo. What began as constitutional scrutiny has, alarmingly, transformed into a public siege—an assault not only on an individual but on the very spirit of our judicial independence.
Following petitions for her removal, President John Dramani Mahama, acting on non-binding advice from the Council of State, has suspended the Chief Justice. What has followed, however, goes beyond process. Madam Torkornoo, a distinguished jurist and a symbol of institutional progress, has reportedly been subjected to invasive searches, the seizure of her personal devices, home intrusions, and coordinated media attacks. These are not just legal measures—they are public humiliations. And they represent a deeply troubling moment for our democracy.
At the heart of this issue lies more than the fate of one woman. It is about the signal Ghana sends in 2025—the same year it proudly celebrates the elevation of its first female Vice President.
It would be disingenuous to ignore the political, legal, and social undertones of this pursuit. Pre-election speculation hinted that the Chief Justice’s position might become untenable following a change in government. What was not expected, however, was the systematic dismantling of her dignity. This is not accountability—it is retribution.
The government’s own intention to table new legislation to regulate the removal of superior court justices, as confirmed by Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga, is an implicit admission that the current process is flawed. If that is so, why persist in using these mechanisms against the sitting Chief Justice?
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo is more than her title. She stands in a proud lineage of Ghanaian women who shattered ceilings—following Justice Georgina Wood, our first female Chief Justice, and Justice Sophia Akuffo. Her elevation in 2023 was not just a personal milestone, but a national statement that Ghanaian women belonged at the highest levels of jurisprudence.
This article is also a personal plea. A plea to Her Excellency, Vice President Esaaba, to rise above political constraints and speak for what is right. In your own words, Madam Vice President, you once said:
“What really matters is not first to come through the door, what matters is holding the door open for those behind to enter.”
The Chief Justice is one such woman behind you. She, too, knocked on the door, walked through, and held it open. She must not be shoved out of it, bruised and ridiculed, in full view of a watching nation.
Let us be clear: this is not a call to exempt any official—however high—from legitimate scrutiny. It is, however, a call to safeguard the dignity of our institutions and ensure that justice is not weaponized. Every Ghanaian girl watching this moment is learning a lesson. Let it be a lesson in fairness, not fear.
Vice President Esaaba, your voice is not just symbolic. It carries weight. It carries history. It carries hope. Use it not just to defend an individual, but to defend justice itself.
Let us not sacrifice our judiciary on the altar of political vendetta. Let us uphold the ideals that have guided us since independence—the ideals that propelled you to high office and that ought to guide all who hold public trust.
Ghana is watching. The world is watching. Most importantly, young girls across this nation are watching.
Will they see courage—or complicity?
Akosua Asaa Manu is a Ghanaian writer and advocate for gender equity and good governance.
