The Chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Frank Davies, has expressed misgivings about the process leading to the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo by President John Dramani Mahama.

In an interview with Citi FM on Thursday, May 1, Mr Davies took issue with how the matter has been played out in the public arena, cautioning that it poses a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary.

“Now, the removal of the Chief Justice is reduced to the court of public opinion. And senior political actors of the government are making judgmental remarks that the Chief Justice will surely be removed,” he observed.

While acknowledging that no public official is beyond scrutiny, he insisted that any investigation or removal process must follow the rule of law.

“No executive officer is beyond reproach, or cannot be subjected to investigative authority, but the process has to be lawful and regular… Why should people go ahead of themselves and say all manner of things? Is it what we call the independence of the judiciary?” he questioned.

Chief Justice Torkornoo was suspended by President Mahama on Tuesday, 22 April, after a prima facie case was established in response to petitions submitted by some private citizens.

A five-member committee has subsequently been appointed to look into the matter.