Opposition parties declare nationwide protest over CJ’s ousting
A coalition of political parties has announced a nationwide protest against the controversial suspension of the Chief Justice, set for Monday, May 5, 2025.
In a joint statement issued after an emergency meeting on Thursday, April 24, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), People’s National Party (PNP), and the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), among others, condemned what they called the “unlawful” removal of the Chief Justice, describing it as “an attack on the very soul of our democracy.”
According to the parties, the suspension mirrors a disturbing trend of judicial interference allegedly orchestrated by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
They referenced a purported failed plot by the NDC in 2010 to remove then Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, saying “history is being repeated.”
“This protest is a clarion call to all citizens: stand for justice, defend democracy, and protect our constitutional order.
“We will not allow political power to erode the foundations of our republic,” the statement read.
The parties accused the NDC of seeking to capture all arms of government, warning that the removal of the Chief Justice could be the beginning of a broader scheme to compromise key state institutions.
Intelligence within political circles, they claimed, suggests that efforts are underway to oust the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her deputies, thereby clearing the path for full political control.
They fear an alleged covert plan to reconstitute the Supreme Court with loyalist judges to pave the way for a third-term presidential bid by John Dramani Mahama in 2028 — a move that would challenge the conventional interpretation of Article 66(2) of the Constitution.
“This is not about politics; it is about principle,” the statement continued. “It is about saying no to impunity… This is a fight for Ghana. This is a fight for our future. This is a fight for justice.”
The coalition also criticized the Mahama administration over what they called politically motivated job terminations in the public service. They warned that the trend signals a return to “a regime of fear, where livelihoods are sacrificed on the altar of political vengeance.”
The parties declared: “To remain indifferent in the face of such developments is to silently endorse the erosion of our democratic foundations and the rise of an authoritarian state,” calling on civil society, faith-based groups, and the general public to join the protest.
The protest is expected to take place simultaneously across major cities, as organizers vow to rally Ghanaians in defense of judicial independence and democratic integrity.
“Be a citizen, not a spectator. Stand for democracy. Oppose dictatorship,” the statement concluded.
Source: channel1news