In a release signed by Solomon Owusu, the Movement for Change affirmed that the President’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice, following advice from the Council of State and the establishment of a five-member investigative committee, is consistent with the procedures outlined in Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
“The 1992 Constitution is the bedrock of our democracy,” the movement stated. “We acknowledge that the President’s action… adheres to the procedural framework outlined in Article 146.”
MFC emphasised the importance of fairness in the committee’s work and urged its members to conduct their duties impartially to ensure the integrity of the process and bolster public confidence in Ghana’s democracy.
The movement also appealed to political parties, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), to refrain from politicising the matter and allow the constitutional process to take its course.
While recognising that the current constitutional framework does not guarantee public transparency in such proceedings, MFC urged the Constitutional Review Committee to consider reforms that would open up the process of removing high-ranking state officials to broader public scrutiny.
The group expressed disappointment with the Ghana Bar Association’s recent position, criticising it for failing to cite relevant constitutional provisions to support its stance. “While we respect their right to advocate for the Chief Justice, such a stance risks conflating the defence of an individual with the defence of due process itself,” the statement said.
MFC reiterated that no public official, including the President, Speaker of Parliament, or Chief Justice, is above the law. The group stressed that accountability must be applied equally and pursued in a way that promotes national unity and democratic strength.
The movement also reiterated a key policy proposal: the replacement of the Council of State with a Second Chamber composed of statesmen and women, tasked with the appointment and removal of heads of major arms of government. This, they argue, would depoliticise such appointments and improve public trust.
“To the people of Ghana, we say this: your voice matters,” the statement concluded. “Let us rise above partisan divides and work together to strengthen our democracy, ensuring that the judiciary remains a beacon of hope and justice for all.”
