Bobby Banson calls for legal reforms amid Chief Justice removal tensions

Legal practitioner Bobby Banson is calling for urgent legislative reforms to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s judiciary, as political tensions mount over a petition seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

In an interview on Saturday, April 19, Mr. Banson voiced concern that the current process is being politicised and reduced to a partisan tug-of-war between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“This issue, as Dr. Pumpuni rightly pointed out, must prompt legislative reforms. Otherwise, it becomes just another political ping-pong match between the NDC and NPP—leaving the judiciary’s reputation in tatters,” Banson stated.

He warned that continued politicisation of judicial matters risks eroding public trust and undermining the judiciary’s independence.

Banson stressed the need for clear legal frameworks to handle allegations of misconduct involving judges, especially top-ranking officials like the Chief Justice, to prevent abuse of the system for political gain.

Echoing similar concerns, Frank Davies, Director of Legal Affairs for the NPP, criticised what he described as the “politicisation” of the constitutional process for removing a Chief Justice.

Speaking on the same platform, Mr. Davies argued that while the constitution rightly provides mechanisms for removal, the way the current matter is being framed in the public sphere could damage democratic institutions.

“It’s not the removal of a Chief Justice, per se, that’s the problem,” he explained on Newsfile on Joy News,

“The issue is how the process is being conducted and communicated. If citizens have a valid case and follow the constitutional route, that shouldn’t be controversial.”

Both legal minds agree that reforms are needed—not to shield judges from accountability, but to ensure the process is free from political manipulation and upholds the rule of law.