Retired Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba has launched a scathing critique of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), accusing them of using the judiciary as a political shield rather than standing up for justice in the case involving suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Speaking exclusively to JoyNews’ Elton Brobbey on The Pulse, Justice Atuguba dismissed the party’s recent objections to the judicial process for the possible removal of the suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, as nothing more than strategic self-preservation.
“You have been overthrown through the ballot. Now your final defence is the Chief Justice? You say, ‘If she falls, we all fall.’ That’s what they are fighting for. It’s not about justice—it’s about survival,” Atuguba declared.
His remarks come on the heels of a protest organised by the NPP on Monday, where the party publicly opposed efforts to remove Chief Justice Torkornoo. Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame had also argued it was procedurally wrong for an acting Chief Justice to empanel and preside over a case involving the sitting CJ.
But Atuguba was unimpressed. “When they [the NPP] were in office, how did they perform? Transparently? Neutrally? In the interest of the people? This is the kind of thing I just hate—pure hypocrisy,” he said.
The retired judge didn’t stop there. He pointed to former National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah’s admission that judicial decisions are sometimes shaped to avoid national instability. “Yes, that’s an honest man,” Atuguba said. “But if the courts were truly implementing the law, what would make him apprehensive? Public perception? The trend? Repeated unanimous decisions in favour of a particular party?”
Citing a recent 3–2 decision that broke a pattern of unanimous rulings favouring the NPP, Atuguba raised deeper concerns about the judiciary’s independence under the current regime. “Before that, it was unanimous after unanimous—always in their favour. Is that justice? That’s the democracy they want to entrench?” he asked pointedly.
Atuguba’s comments cut to the heart of a growing national debate—not just about the fate of a Chief Justice, but about the integrity of the justice system itself.
