New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has expressed deep concern over the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, questioning what wrong she committed to warrant such a decision.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Agyepong described the removal as “worrying” and a dangerous signal for Ghana’s democracy.

“I am very sad that under President Mahama’s watch this will happen. What did she do? The removal of one leg of democracy is wrong,” he said.

He argued that the threshold for removing a Chief Justice should be much higher than what played out under the Article 146 Committee’s recommendation.

“The judiciary is where we go for justice, and if we overly politicise the judiciary, then it becomes worrying. You can only remove a Chief Justice if, in the worst case, they tamper with the course of justice. If nothing like that happened, then it is not grave enough to remove her,” Mr Agyepong stressed.

The NPP presidential hopeful also reminded President Mahama of the goodwill he received when he returned to power.

“Mahama came to power with a strong goodwill of over one million votes. This was his best opportunity to leave a legacy. I know him personally. Back in 2001, when I was Press Secretary to President Kufuor and he was the Minority Spokesman on Communications, we used to meet over budget readings and other issues. I even know his family, so I call him John. With such privilege, I am disappointed he supervised this removal,” he added.

According to Mr Agyepong, the issues raised against Justice Torkornoo could have been handled administratively.

“The judiciary has policies, including travel arrangements that are managed by its own institutions. To remove her over such side issues will not help us as a country,” he said.

He further cautioned that Ghana’s democracy could be undermined if leaders continue to make decisions that erode public trust.

“This cycle of issues will not help us. As leaders, our actions are supposed to encourage people and not the other way round,” he warned.

Mr Agyepong’s comments come amid heated political fallout following the Chief Justice’s removal.

While some NPP members have suggested the party would reverse the decision if it returns to power, retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice William Atuguba, has condemned such threats as politically reckless.