Frank Davies warns of judicial independence under threat after after Supreme Court strikes out CJ’s affidavit

Frank Davies, Chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Committee of the NPP, is worried about judicial independence in Ghana.

He believes recent events in Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo's impeachment process threaten democracy.

On May 28, Mr. Davies spoke on Joy News’ PM Express. He reacted to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike out a supplementary affidavit from the Chief Justice.

Davies admitted he hadn’t reviewed the full ruling yet. However, he found the implications troubling.

He stated, “I wasn’t in court and haven’t seen the full ruling.” He added that it was a unanimous decision by all five justices.

They ruled that the application had no merit. He expressed confidence that the Chief Justice and her lawyers would know how to proceed next.

What disturbed him most was not just legal technicalities. He sees a pattern that could undermine judicial independence.

“As a trained lawyer, I’m really disturbed by what is going on,” he said.

He warned that judicial independence might be at risk if caution isn’t exercised.

Davies highlighted concerns regarding the content of the Chief Justice’s affidavit. The court struck it out but he believes its claims deserve attention.

“The affidavit contained interesting and revealing information,” he explained.

Even though it was rejected on procedural grounds, its content is concerning.

When pressed for specifics, Davies mentioned claims of unequal treatment during proceedings.

“Fundamentally, she’s complaining about her rights being abused,” he noted.

He pointed out that her lawyers were denied access to certain gadgets while petitioners' lawyers could use their phones and laptops.

These are claims made by the Chief Justice, not proven facts. However, Davies argued they deserve serious consideration due to lack of rebuttal.

“I am not saying that is the truth,” he clarified. “But we should take her words seriously.”

“If this really happened, then whatever is being done is not right.”

His comments come as scrutiny on the judiciary increases amid high stakes in the impeachment process.

Davies’ warning adds to growing concerns about political influences affecting judicial processes in Ghana.