Former Lawmaker Accuses NPP of Undermining Judicial Trust

Former Tamale Central legislator Inusah Fuseini has criticized Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) for what he describes as an overtly political defense of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, warning that the party’s actions risk eroding public confidence in the judiciary.

Speaking during a JoyNews Newsfile segment, Fuseini argued that the NPP’s vigorous public support for the Chief Justice amid ongoing legal debates has blurred the line between political interests and judicial independence.

“It is totally wrong for a political party to assume the fight to protect the Chief Justice,” Fuseini stated, emphasizing that such partisanship could fuel perceptions of bias within the judiciary. He cautioned that the NPP’s stance might lead citizens to view Justice Torkornoo as sympathetic to the NPP, undermining her role as an impartial arbiter. “They are doing Madam a disservice,” he added. “I simply do not understand why the NPP is so jumpy.”

Fuseini expressed unease over the polarized discourse surrounding the Chief Justice, noting that the politicization of her office complicates objective analysis of her decisions. “It is becoming increasingly difficult to talk about the Chief Justice because she is the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana,” he said, stressing that her position demands neutrality above political allegiances.

The former MP urged the NPP to reconsider its approach, asserting that the party’s conduct inadvertently amplifies skepticism toward judicial institutions. “If the NPP doesn’t know that they are creating the problem, I am telling them they are creating the problem,” he concluded.

The remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of Ghana’s judiciary, long regarded as a pillar of democratic stability in West Africa. Legal analysts note that while criticism of judicial figures is not uncommon, overt political alignment with a sitting Chief Justice risks destabilizing public trust, particularly in a climate where courts frequently adjudicate high-stakes electoral and governance disputes.

Fuseini’s intervention underscores broader concerns about institutional integrity in Ghana’s democracy, where the judiciary’s perceived independence remains critical to resolving political tensions. As the NPP prepares for upcoming elections, its handling of such critiques could influence both domestic confidence and international perceptions of Ghana’s commitment to judicial impartiality.