Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, has accused former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of deliberately appointing judges aligned with his administration in order to protect corrupt officials from prosecution.
Speaking on 3FM’s Midday News with Mawuena Egbeta on Friday, April 18, Gbande argued that the Mahama administration’s fight against corruption would be severely hampered if the judiciary is not reformed. He stressed the need to “clean the judiciary” to ensure accountability.
Gbande also called for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa, citing their alleged political affiliations. According to him, their positions must be filled by individuals who are neutral and not politically exposed.
Referring to the precedent set during Akufo-Addo’s presidency, Gbande noted, “The same laws that allowed President Akufo-Addo to remove Charlotte Osei also empower us to act. We are not just repeating history—we are addressing each case individually.”
He emphasized, “The Chief Justice, the EC Chair, and other politically influenced directors will be removed. It’s only a matter of time. We need unbiased individuals in those positions.”
Gbande further alleged that Akufo-Addo’s strategic appointments to the judiciary were intended to shield his appointees from legal consequences. “If we don’t clean the judiciary, then accountability is just talk. The current Chief Justice is politically compromised,” he stated.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has submitted three petitions to the Council of State, seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, as required under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. The Presidency confirmed on March 25, 2025, that the petitions came from concerned citizens.
The Chief Justice has since issued a formal response to the petition.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear injunction applications related to the petition on May 6. However, at the last court session on April 16, the hearing was postponed due to the absence of one judge, Justice Samuel Asiedu, leaving the panel with only four members led by Justice Osei Bonsu.
At the previous sitting, former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame—representing the Old Tafo MP, who filed one of the suits—argued that President Mahama should pause the Council of State consultations until the injunction is heard.
Current Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine countered Dame’s argument, asserting that constitutional duties like the President’s consultations with the Council of State cannot be legally obstructed. “The law is clear—you cannot place an injunction on the performance of a constitutional mandate,” he said.
