Accra is set for heightened political activity today, Monday, May 5, as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a coalition of allied political groups take to the streets in protest against what they describe as an unconstitutional assault on judicial independence, following the controversial suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The protest, expected to draw large crowds, will wind through key streets of the capital, with supporters of the NPP joined by members of other parties, including the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), People’s National Party (PNP), and the Ghana Union Movement (GUM).
At the heart of the protest is the growing unease over the role of political influence in Ghana’s judiciary. The NPP and its allies argue that the Chief Justice’s suspension—reportedly influenced by figures linked to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC)—undermines the independence of the judiciary and threatens the democratic balance of power.
“This is not just about one individual,” said NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong. “It’s about protecting the integrity of our constitutional institutions. The judiciary must be allowed to operate without fear or favour.”
Frimpong warned that failing to push back against what he called “executive overreach” could embolden future governments to tamper with the courts for political convenience.
The move has received support from the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), which has condemned the suspension as unconstitutional and demanded its reversal. However, legal opinions remain divided. Dr. John Osae-Kwapong of CDD-Ghana has suggested that the matter should be handled within the existing constitutional framework rather than through street protests.
The demonstration comes at a politically sensitive time, with general elections only months away. While supporters of the protest see it as a necessary stand for institutional integrity, critics argue the NPP is exploiting the issue to rally its base and score political points.
Security services have pledged to ensure calm and order throughout the protest, with traffic diversions and security deployments planned across Accra.
As the protest unfolds, it may prove to be a defining moment in Ghana’s ongoing debate over judicial autonomy and political accountability.
