Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has raised alarm over what he believes is a calculated attempt by President John Dramani Mahama to consolidate political power through the judiciary, following the nomination of seven new Supreme Court judges.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Afenyo-Markin, who is also the MP for Effutu, did not mince words in accusing the President of engineering a covert “third-term agenda,” using the recent judicial appointments and the controversial suspension of the Chief Justice as evidence.
“Let’s be clear,” Afenyo-Markin stated, “this is not routine judicial housekeeping. This is political strategy disguised as governance.” He suggested the nominations form part of a broader effort to entrench executive dominance by weakening the independence of the judiciary.
The Minority Leader’s remarks come just days after President Mahama suspended the Chief Justice—an unprecedented move that has drawn criticism from opposition parties and some legal experts. Afenyo-Markin warned that if unchecked, these actions could dangerously tilt Ghana’s democratic balance.
He called for nationwide vigilance and urged civil society organisations, religious institutions, and citizens to stand up against what he described as an “assault on the Constitution.”
“This transcends NDC and NPP. It’s about the soul of our democracy,” he added. “When you pack the courts and silence judicial dissent, you are not leading — you are ruling.”
The Presidency has yet to issue a formal response to the Minority Leader’s claims.
