Former Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong, has raised deep concerns over the ongoing impeachment proceedings against suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, warning that the current approach could set a dangerous precedent that may eventually undermine the very foundation of Ghana’s democracy.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, June 26, Acheampong cautioned that how the matter is being handled could erode public trust in the judiciary and expose the institution to future political manipulation.

“What we are doing to the Chief Justice will come back to haunt us. It is not fair, and it is not right. Some judges may have gone through such processes before, but never as a Chief Justice. That is my worry,” he said.

He expressed concern about the imbalance of power between the arms of government, warning that the judiciary appears vulnerable to overreach by the Executive. “In a democratic state where we have the three arms of government, the Executive, the Judiciary, and the Legislature, we have given too much strength and arm to the head of the Executive to disadvantage the Judiciary. When I see that, I call it democracy capture,” he stated.

His remarks come in the wake of public allegations by Chief Justice Torkornoo, who has accused the committee investigating her of operating in secrecy and using intimidation tactics. She described the proceedings, being held at a high-security facility on Castle Drive in Osu, as a deviation from established legal tradition that weakens her right to a proper defence.

Despite calls for her resignation, Justice Torkornoo has stood her ground, insisting that stepping down would legitimise what she called “flawed, unknown, and opaque processes.”

Justice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, by President John Dramani Mahama after a prima facie case was established in consultation with the Council of State. This triggered a constitutional process under Article 146(10) to investigate multiple petitions of alleged misconduct brought against her.

In line with Article 146(6), a five-member committee was constituted to probe the allegations. Although the hearings are being held in camera as permitted by law, the Chief Justice has made several unsuccessful attempts to challenge the process through the courts. All four applications, including one she filed personally, were dismissed by the Supreme Court.

However, a new case has been filed by her lawyers at the High Court seeking to quash the ongoing proceedings for her removal again.