Special Aide to President John Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has stated that the issues raised in the petition seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo echo widespread public grievances about the Judiciary.

The petition, submitted by legal academic Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, alleged misconduct and incompetence on the part of the Chief Justice.

However, former President Nana Akufo-Addo, after consulting the Council of State, dismissed the petition on January 6, stating that it failed to establish a prima facie case for further action.

In an interview on JoyNews' Newsfile, Madam Bawa Mogtari argued that the concerns outlined in the petition are not isolated but are indicative of broader frustrations with the judiciary's conduct and decision-making.

“What the petitioner put before the President reflects matters that we have all been complaining about. These are issues that have come up repeatedly, and they continue to undermine public trust in the judiciary,” she remarked.

She highlighted findings from Afrobarometer and CDD-Ghana reports, which document growing skepticism about the judiciary’s impartiality and integrity. She pointed to a perceived disconnect between the judiciary’s actions and public expectations of fairness and ethical conduct.

“There are ethics within which the judiciary and especially the Chief Justice must operate. Yet, many incidents have raised questions about their adherence to these standards,” she said.

She also cited recent judicial decisions, including controversial rulings by the Supreme Court, as examples of incidents that have eroded public faith. These cases, she suggested, are emblematic of the concerns outlined in the petition.

Madam Bawa Mogtari emphasised the need for comprehensive reforms to restore confidence in the judiciary noting that ignoring the concerns raised by the petition would further deepen public distrust in the institution.

She called on stakeholders, including civil society organisations and legal professionals, to advocate for transparency, accountability, and adherence to ethical standards within the judiciary.

“The issues raised in the petition and those captured in public opinion surveys must be a wake-up call. We cannot continue to sweep these concerns under the rug,” she noted.

Her comments come amidst growing calls for judicial reforms and heightened public scrutiny of the judiciary's role in Ghana's democratic and governance framework.