Ghana protesters accuse president of power grab after chief justice's suspension

Hundreds of opposition protesters dressed in red and black have condemned a decision by Ghana's president to suspend the country's chief justice, and are demanding that she be reinstated with immediate effect.

They accuse President John Mahama of violating the constitution by failing to follow due process, and say he is interfering in the independence of the judiciary.

Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from her post last week pending investigations into her conduct - the first time a chief justice has been suspended in Ghana's history.

Action was taken after the president said three people had sent petitions to him containing undisclosed allegations against Chief Justice Torkornoo.

Monday's demonstration in Accra was led by the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were in power when Chief Justice Torkornoo was appointed by then-president Nana Akufo-Addo two years ago.

The NPP's national organiser Nana Boakye Yiadom told the BBC her treatment was politically motivated and an attack on democracy.

Also taking part in the protests were three smaller opposition groups.

The opposition's demands echo those made by the Ghana Bar Association last week. The grouping of top legal professionals said suspending the chief justice was unconstitutional and President Mahama must reverse it.

But that view is not shared by all.

A number of lawyers in the country argue it is within the president's power to act when there is evidence of misconduct by a public officer, no matter the position. This view is also backed by the president's supporters.

By law, chief justices in Ghana enjoy security of tenure, which means that they remain in office until retirement.

Yet Ghana's constitution does empower the president to appoint, suspend or even fire the chief justice where there is evidence of wrongdoing, including incompetence and misbehaviour. However some Ghanaians argue due process has not been followed in this instance.

One protester, Serwaa Akoto, told the BBC: "The judiciary is under attack and we want the right thing to be done. Why is he suspending the chief justice?"

Also at the protest was Charles Oteng, who told the BBC: "We want to send a strong signal to the president. Yes, indeed, he has all the powers as a president, but the way he is attacking our judiciary is very alarming - and we the youth will not sit for him to do whatever he wants to do."

Chief Justice Torkornoo is the third woman to hold the position in Ghana. Since winning power, Mahama's National Democratic Congress has stepped up accusations of bias in her rulings of high profile political cases, which she denies.

She is expected to be summoned to answer questions in person in front of a committee investigating the allegations against her.

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