Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for a renewed national commitment to protecting the independence of the judiciary, warning that any attempt to undermine the courts would erode public confidence in Ghana’s democracy.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday during the opening of the Third Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament, the Effutu legislator said the judiciary remained the “last line of defence for liberty” and must be shielded from political interference and partisan manipulation.
“We will resist any effort that seeks to compromise the sanctity of the judiciary,” Mr Afenyo-Markin declared. “The courts are not tools of convenience for those in authority; they are the guardians of our collective freedoms.”
The Minority Leader’s remarks came amid growing national debate following the dismissal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, a decision the Minority Caucus insists lacked transparency and due process.
Describing the development as “a dangerous precedent in constitutional governance,” Mr Afenyo-Markin urged government and state institutions to reflect deeply on the values of fairness, equality, and justice.
“The Minority therefore calls for restraint, reflection, and a renewed commitment to ensuring the true meaning of freedom under the rule of law,” he added.
He also expressed concern over what he described as selective justice, citing the arrests of opposition figures and alleged government efforts to silence dissenting voices, while individuals linked to the ruling establishment “escape accountability for similar offences.”
“Justice cannot be harsh on critics and lenient on those close to power,” he cautioned, urging the executive to uphold the principle of equality before the law.
The session also witnessed Speaker Alban Bagbin swearing in two new Members of Parliament — Bernard Bediako Baidoo for Akwatia and Professor Alidu Seidu for Tamale Central.
Mr Baidoo won the Akwatia by-election with 18,199 votes following the passing of Ernest Yaw Kumi, while Professor Seidu took over the Tamale Central seat unopposed after the tragic death of Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
As Parliament resumes its final session of the year, the Minority Leader’s remarks signal what may be an intense legislative term, marked by scrutiny of executive actions and a renewed push for institutional accountability and judicial integrity.
