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Legal luminary and former President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Samuel Okudzeto, has warned that the recent suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo sends troubling signals to the international community — a move he says could negatively impact Ghana’s reputation, investor confidence, and economic outlook.
Speaking on PM Express on Joy News Tuesday night, Mr. Okudzeto acknowledged that the decision falls within the remit of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution but argued that “legal correctness is not enough” when dealing with matters of such high sensitivity and global implications.
“When you suspend a Chief Justice, the signal that it sends out into the international community is quite serious indeed,” he stated.
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The veteran lawyer and former Council of State member emphasised that the global diplomatic and investor communities closely monitor how justice is dispensed in emerging democracies like Ghana. He noted that while following due process is essential, the optics and timing of judicial actions can have far-reaching consequences.
“Even though it is pursuant to a constitutional provision, you have to be careful how you handle it,” he cautioned.
President John Dramani Mahama suspended the Chief Justice on April 22, 2025, after determining that a prima facie case had been established in response to three separate petitions seeking her removal from office. A five-member committee, made up of respected figures from the judiciary, academia, the military, and the public sector, has since been constituted to investigate the matter.
Mr. Okudzeto did not question the legality of the move but rather its implications for Ghana’s democratic credentials.
“I can assure you that a lot of investors will withhold their investments from your country by virtue of that kind of situation,” he said, pointing to how judicial independence is a critical benchmark for foreign partners evaluating a nation’s stability and rule of law.
He reiterated that perceptions matter greatly in international relations and stressed the need for the Ghanaian government to act with diplomatic sensitivity and strategic foresight in handling such high-profile judicial issues.
“It’s not that you shouldn’t handle it,” he clarified. “But you must be careful the way, the manner in which you handle it.”
Mr. Okudzeto’s comments join a growing chorus of concern among legal experts, civil society leaders, and political analysts who have questioned both the secrecy surrounding the petitions and the speed with which the suspension was executed.
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