“When we come into office, we’ll remove any Chief Justice you put there”- Salam Mustapha tells Mahama

Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has issued a warning that any Chief Justice nominated under President John Dramani Mahama may be removed by an NPP government in the future.

He issues the warning in response to Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s “crude” suspension, which he claims jeopardizes the judiciary’s impartiality.

Mustapha criticized the way the present administration has handled the suspension in an interview with Channel One TV on Saturday, May 3.

“Whether His Excellency John Dramani Mahama wants a third term or not, this is a crude way to go about it,” He implied that political scheming was more important than the judicial procedure when he made the statement.

The Chief Justice’s office would become vulnerable to the shifting fortunes of the party in power if it were politicized, he continued.

“Because what essentially you are doing is making the office of the Chief Justice coterminous with the party in power,” Mustapha said, cautioning about the long-term harm to judicial independence.

Speaking directly to host Umaru Sanda Amadu, Mustapha made the unhesitating pledge of reciprocal action.

“If you go ahead with what is going on, with the suspension that has been handed to her, and then a committee comes and says she should go, then anyone you bring, by the grace of God, anytime we come into office, we’ll remove any CJ you put there” he added.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com