A British media report has alleged that President John Dramani Mahama dismissed Ghana’s Chief Justice based on a secret petition, raising serious questions about judicial independence and transparency in the country and rendering the removal unlawful.
According to The Telegraph, a conservative British daily newspaper published in London, the dismissal forms part of what it describes as a broader pattern of “lawfare” and political interference under President Mahama’s second non-consecutive term.
The report, authored by Mat Whatley — Managing Director of Okapi Train, a security operations firm with experience in Nigeria, Libya, and other parts of Africa — alleged that the Chief Justice was removed without any public disclosure of the petition that triggered the process.
“The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was dismissed based on a petition that was never made public; half a dozen more compliant justices have since been appointed to the same bench,” Whatley wrote.
The piece, titled “Why Is Britain Funding Ghana’s Leftist, Russia-Sympathising Government?”, further claimed that since President Mahama’s return to power in January, Ghana has “taken a far-leftward, anti-democratic turn,” where the rule of law is allegedly being bent to protect political allies and punish critics.
Whatley’s analysis accused the government of politicising the judiciary by reshaping the Supreme Court to favour executive interests. He argued that the secretive nature of the Chief Justice’s dismissal undermines the principle of separation of powers and weakens Ghana’s long-standing reputation for judicial independence in West Africa.
“Ghana’s rule of law is under strain. When judges can be removed in secrecy and replaced by those willing to toe the political line, the very foundation of justice is compromised,” he wrote.
The report adds that several legal cases involving members of the ruling party, including those linked to significant financial and corruption scandals, have allegedly been dropped. At the same time, investigations targeting opposition figures have intensified, a trend that Whatley referred to as “lawfare against political opponents.”
Observers say these claims, if accurate, represent a significant erosion of democratic accountability in one of Africa’s most celebrated constitutional democracies. The alleged secrecy surrounding the Chief Justice’s removal has also raised concerns about the transparency of Ghana’s judicial processes and the extent to which the executive arm of government can influence them.
In the same article, Whatley questioned Britain’s continued financial and development assistance to Ghana, urging policymakers in London to reconsider such commitments amid what he described as “democratic backsliding” and a weakening rule of law.
“Is there the rule of law? Is the legal system sufficiently independent? What are the chances of getting the money back? The answers are obvious, even to those of us who are not government economists,” he wrote, arguing that Ghana under Mahama has become “a bad port of call for Britain’s global re-engagement policy.”
*Background*
Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo was removed from office as Ghana’s Chief Justice in September 2025, following a presidential directive based on the findings of a special committee established under Article 146 of the Constitution.
President John Dramani Mahama suspended Torkornoo in April after determining a prima facie case had been made against her following three petitions alleging “stated misbehaviour” and abuse of office. A five-member committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang, was established to investigate the claims.
The committee’s report cited irregularities in the use of public funds during official travel, breaches of administrative procedure in staff transfers, and questions surrounding recommendations for Supreme Court appointments. It concluded that her conduct amounted to “stated misbehaviour” and recommended her removal.
President Mahama accepted the recommendation and formally removed her from office on September 1, 2025.
Torkornoo, who was appointed Chief Justice in June 2023, denied any wrongdoing and argued that the proceedings were procedurally flawed. Her removal has sparked debate within Ghana’s legal community, with some lawyers questioning the fairness of the process and the interpretation of “stated misbehaviour” under Article 146.
