Ghana’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) has issued a strong warning to President John Dramani Mahama over the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, cautioning that the move could endanger the country’s democratic stability.
Addressing thousands at the 2025 National May Day Parade at Black Star Square in Accra, TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah voiced deep concern over what he described as a dangerous precedent set by the President’s response to three petitions calling for the Chief Justice’s removal.
“We are gravely concerned,” Ansah declared. “This process we have just begun sets the country and our democracy on a dangerous slippery slope from which we may not recover.”
He urged President Mahama to exercise restraint, stating that the decision regarding the Chief Justice would have long-lasting consequences for Ghana’s democratic institutions.
“Mr. President, hasten slowly and cautiously on this matter,” he advised. “Your decision on this matter will be consequential for our democracy.”
While the focus of the May Day celebration was on improving workers’ pay and conditions, Ansah’s remarks drew sharp attention to what many in Organized Labour see as a looming constitutional crisis.
This year’s May Day theme, “Resetting Pay and Working Conditions in Ghana – The Role of Stakeholders,” underscored broader concerns about justice, governance, and economic fairness. Ansah tied these themes together, calling for transformation not just in wages and work environments, but in the safeguarding of democratic norms.
The TUC’s public stance injects a powerful voice into the national debate, signaling that Ghana’s labour movement is prepared to challenge actions it sees as threatening constitutional integrity.
