By Daniel Bampoe
Accra is set to witness a massive protest today, Monday, May 5, 2025, as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leads a coalition of political parties in a nationwide demonstration dubbed the “Save the Judiciary Demo.”
The march, described as a rallying cry to defend judicial independence, follows the controversial suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo by President John Dramani Mahama.
Clad in red and black attire symbolizing resistance and mourning, protestors are expected to converge as early as 5:00 am at the car park opposite the Supreme Court, adjacent to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
From there, they will march through Parliament House and conclude at the Jubilee House, where a petition is to be submitted to President Mahama or his representative.
The demonstration is being held under the auspices of the Coalition of Political Parties, which includes the NPP, the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), the National Democratic Party (NDP), the People’s National Party (PNP), and the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), among others.
Background
The protest was sparked by President Mahama’s decision on April 22, 2025, to suspend Chief Justice Torkornoo.
The President’s action followed the establishment of a prima facie case based on three separate petitions submitted for her removal.
The decision was taken under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, after consultations with the Council of State.
However, this move has been met with strong opposition from multiple political parties, civil society groups, and legal observers.
Critics argue that the suspension is not only politically motivated but also represents a fundamental threat to the independence of the judiciary.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA), for example, has called for the revocation of the suspension, warning of a dangerous precedent that could erode public confidence in the judiciary.
In Defence Judiciary
While many have interpreted the protest as a direct defence of the embattled Chief Justice, leading figures in the NPP have clarified that the demonstration is about protecting institutional integrity rather than an individual.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Big Issue political show, the Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, stressed that the May 5 demonstration is about defending the principle of separation of powers.
“For me, what the NPP is doing on Monday, May 5, is a protest against the destruction of the independence of the judiciary. It is not in defence of Torkornoo,” he said.
This position was echoed by NPP Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, who, speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, declared that the protest would “shake the nation.”
He accused the current administration of attempting to subjugate the judiciary and turn the country toward authoritarianism.
“The NDC now wants to take their tendencies for dictatorship to a tyranny,” Ahiagbah stated.
“We won’t back down until Ghanaians realise that they made a mistake with their vote in the 2024 election.”
The demonstration is being led by NPP National Chairman Stephen Ayesu Ntim, who has suspended his ongoing nationwide “Thank You Tour” to spearhead the protest.
The symbolism of red and black – colours often associated with resistance, loss, and determination – is intended to reflect the seriousness of the perceived threat to Ghana’s democracy.
As the marchers prepare to make their way through the heart of the capital, many observers see today’s protest as a critical moment in the broader struggle to preserve judicial independence in Ghana.
Whether it will force a reversal of the Chief Justice’s suspension or trigger broader constitutional reforms remains to be seen, but for now, the streets of Accra are set to become the epicentre of political resistance.
