Janet Nabla, the National Chairman of the People’s National Party (PNP), has likened President John Dramani Mahama to Adolf Hitler and Idi Amin following his removal of Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo as Chief Justice.
The PNP chairman accused Mahama of undermining the constitution.
According to her, John Mahama has now become the head of the judiciary.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM, Nabla stated, “Our democracy is gone because President Mahama has now become the head of the judiciary. The executive power has taken control over the judiciary. The separation of powers and democracy are no longer working in this country. It is as if we are in a military regime”.
“President Mahama is doing whatever he wants, abusing his office. He has disrespected and violated Article 146. How can you establish a prima facie case without giving the one involved a fair hearing? The grounds on which she was removed are ridiculous and senseless.”
She added, “President Mahama has disgraced the entire nation of Ghana to the whole of Africa. President Mahama is competing with Adolf Hitler and Idi Amin.
“When you examine what President Mahama is doing, the only people I can liken him to are Adolf Hitler and Idi Amin. These two leaders were ruthless, wicked and abused power. They undermined the constitution and used their own minds in governing.”
Madam Nabla noted that Ghanaians would punish the National Democratic Congress (NDC) by voting them out of office in the 2028 elections.
Janet Nabla asserted, “We won’t let the NDC as a political party destroy our democracy. This is the last time any Ghanaian will vote for the NDC.
They can travel to space and back, but they will be voted out in 2028. There is no amount of violence they can deploy that would make them win the elections. This is a political party that thrives on violence and abuse of office, but those times have passed.”
Background
President John Mahama sacked the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect after he received a first report from the five-member committee he constituted to investigate three petitions brought against the Chief Justice.
Hours after President Mahama received the committee reports, Chief Justice Torkornoo was sacked with immediate effect.
A statement from the presidency stated, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect”.
“This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori. After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office.
“Under Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the Committee’s recommendation,” the statement concluded.
A leaked document on social media concluded that Justice Torkornoo had engaged in conduct amounting to “stated misbehaviour” under Article 146(1).
The Key finding read, “Unlawful expenditure of public funds: The committee held that the Chief Justice caused the Judicial Service to pay travel expenses for her husband and daughter during private holiday trips in 2023, including per diem allowances. This, the report stated, was an “avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds.”
Abuse of discretionary power: The committee found that her handling of the transfer of one Mr. Baiden breached Article 296(a) and (b) of the Constitution, describing the act as misbehaviour.
Interference in judicial appointments: The report also noted that she sought to bypass the established process for nominating Justices of the Supreme Court, contrary to precedent set in the Ghana Bar Association case. The committee concluded this amounted to misbehaviour”.
The committee subsequently recommended her removal in accordance with Article 146(7). President Mahama, bound by Article 146(9), which makes the President’s action mandatory once such a recommendation is made, formally removed Justice Torkornoo by Warrant of Removal under the Presidential Seal.
Meanwhile, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior Supreme Court judge, was appointed by President Mahama to act as Chief Justice during the investigation process.
President Mahama is now expected to name former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo’s successor in the coming days.