By Citizen Akoto
The signs are impossible to ignore—President Mahama is gearing up to strike a major blow to Ghana’s judiciary. Word on the street is he’s set to suspend the Chief Justice today or tomorrow, pushing through a shady petition at lightning speed while brushing aside the real crises plaguing the nation. It’s a move that feels all too familiar, and it’s got people talking: is this just another chapter in Mahama’s ongoing vendetta against anyone who won’t bend to his will?
Since taking office, Mahama’s strategy has been clear as day: purge anyone who doesn’t toe the line, persecute those who stand firm, and politicize everything in sight. First, he cleaned house across state institutions, firing innocent people left and right. Now, he’s turned his sights on the judiciary. Why? Not because the Chief Justice did anything wrong, but because the NDC can’t stomach a judge who will be firm and loyal to nothing but laws of the land.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s real emergencies are piling up—and Mahama seems content to look the other way. Illegal mining, or galamsey, is tearing through the country, with excavators and cyanide poisoning the land. Yet, instead of tackling that, Mahama’s emergency is kicking out a judge who dared to stay independent. Then there’s the $67.5 million worth of state containers that mysteriously disappeared under his Energy Minister’s watch. But rather than chasing down those answers, Mahama’s busy trying to stuff the judiciary into the NDC’s back pocket. The message couldn’t be louder: fall in line, or you’re out.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this script. Critics say it’s a revenge of Charlotte Osei’s removal—a blatant power play to keep the party faithful happy.
What’s just as troubling? The silence. Where are the bishops who should be calling this out from their pulpits? Where are the civil society groups who swear they’re the guardians of democracy? Their quiet isn’t just disappointing—it’s starting to feel like they’re in on it.
Ghanaians are left with big questions: Who’s behind this petition? What proof do they even have? And why is the whole thing wrapped in secrecy? To many, it doesn’t smell like justice—it reeks of a warning to anyone who might stand up to the powers that be.
As I sit here writing, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re at a crossroads. Will this be another dark mark on Ghana’s democracy, a story we’ll tell years from now about trust betrayed? Or will people step up, demand answers, and fight for what’s right? One thing’s for sure: Ghana’s democracy is on the line, and history doesn’t forget. All I can do is put these words out there, hoping they reach someone who’s ready to listen—and maybe even act.