A coalition of political parties led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is staging a demonstration today, Monday, May 5, in Accra to protest what the party describes as a politically motivated attack on the country’s judiciary.

The protest follows the controversial suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Members and supporters of the NPP, joined by other political parties including the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), People’s National Party (PNP), and the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), are marching through key streets in the capital.

The NPP says the demonstration is in response to what it calls a “calculated and dangerous interference” in the operations of the judiciary by political actors aligned with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, speaking ahead of the protest, accused those behind the Chief Justice’s suspension of trying to undermine public confidence in the judiciary. “Those behind this are attempting to erode public trust in the judicial system,” he said.

He further argued that the suspension process violated the country’s legal framework. “Allowing such actions to go unchallenged could set a dangerous precedent for the future of judicial independence in Ghana,” he warned.

The suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo has generated widespread debate, with some seeing the NPP’s protest as a legitimate defense of democratic principles, while others accuse the party of politicising a constitutional issue. Critics argue that street protests could be an attempt to pressure the legal system or preempt judicial outcomes.

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has weighed in, condemning the suspension as unconstitutional and calling for it to be reversed immediately.

Meanwhile, not all voices agree with the protest. Dr. John Osae-Kwapong of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) believes the current developments are within the bounds of the Constitution and should be allowed to take their course.

With tensions running high, today’s protest is shaping up to be a major moment in Ghana’s ongoing legal and political discourse, especially with the December general elections on the horizon.

Security agencies have assured the public that measures are in place to ensure a peaceful protest. Police say they are managing traffic flow and monitoring the situation to prevent disturbances.