Youth advocate and entrepreneur, Akosua Asaa Manu popularly called Kozie has made a passionate appeal to Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, to intervene in what she describes as the unjust treatment and public humiliation of the suspended Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
In an Open Letter, she expressed deep concern over the processes that led to the Chief Justice’s suspension by President John Dramani Mahama, and what she termed ‘a deliberate and concerted effort to not only remove Madam Torkornoo, but also subject her to the highest possible form of public ridicule.’
“What began as scrutiny has swiftly transformed into a siege, and our democracy suffers alongside its distinguished daughter,” she wrote.
The open letter, titled “When Scrutiny Turns Into Siege,” pays tribute to the Vice President’s legacy as a trailblazer in Ghana’s academic and political history and calls on her to use her moral authority to defend the dignity of the Chief Justice and the judicial institution.
“You are the icon who ascended to Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast… In unlocking this door, you reminded us with those poignant words: ‘What really matters is not first to come through the door, what matters is holding the door open for those behind to enter.’”
Kozie invoked the history of female leadership in Ghana’s judiciary and pointed to former Chief Justices Georgina Wood and Sophia Akuffo, as part of a legacy now under threat.
“Why then is Justice Torkornoo not merely being pushed out, but also being bruised and embarrassed on her way out?” the letter queried.
She also raised concerns about the methods used by state investigative agencies, alleging that the Chief Justice has endured “random searches, the seizure of mobile devices, home invasions, and synchronized media trials. These, she argued, are inconsistent with the ideals of fairness and respect for constitutional officeholders.
Akosua Manu, who contested the 2024 Parliamentary elections in Adentan on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stressed that her appeal was not to shield any official from accountability but to protect the dignity of Ghana’s institutions.
“Justice must not be sacrificed on the altar of vendetta. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done,” she cautioned.
She also referred to a recent statement by the Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, indicating the government’s intention to introduce legislation outlining clear procedures for removing a Chief Justice. Manu described this as “an admission that the present process is flawed.”
Kozie called on the Vice President to stand up for institutional integrity and Ghana’s promise of justice and demanded, “Will you rise not just as Vice President, but as a woman who knows what it means to lead against the odds.
