The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has cautioned that President John Dramani Mahama now wields powers akin to those of a “supreme leader” under Ghana’s present political arrangement.

Speaking on Channel One TV on Saturday, September 13, Mr Ahiagbah argued that the dismissal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, coupled with the ruling party’s dominance in Parliament, has dangerously concentrated authority in the hands of the executive.

“What you have in Ghana after the President’s removal of the Chief Justice is a legislature that is dominated by the government of the day. On top of that, you have a Judiciary that is now in a position to be compromised,” he observed.

Chief Justice Torkornoo was removed from office after a presidentially appointed inquiry concluded that allegations of misconduct against her were substantiated. She had been on suspension since April following three separate petitions.

The Presidency insisted that the decision was in line with the committee’s recommendations, but the former Chief Justice has dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated.

Mr Ahiagbah, however, maintained that the development had eroded the independence of the Judiciary and undermined the principle of separation of powers.

“So now you have effectively a supreme leader, who may deny it, but the reality is that President Mahama has become one."

"Parliament is essentially his, and the Judiciary will effectively become his. When that happens, he is a supreme leader. He may disagree, but that is the fact,” he declared.