The suspension of Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo has sparked political controversy particularly from opposition MPs who accuse President John Mahama of trying to “pack the courts” with justices who are sympathetic to the governing party.

The suspension comes after three misconduct petitions which marks the first time in the nation’s history that a sitting chief justice has been suspended.

President John Mahama’s administration claims the suspension is necessary to allow a fair investigation. The content of the petitions has not been made public, and Ms Torkornoo is yet to comment openly on the matter.

Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame condemned the action as “the biggest assault on the judiciary in the nation’s history,” citing procedural missteps, including the delayed delivery of the petitions to the chief justice.

A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the claims, with two additional petitions emerging after the suspension.

The controversy has intensified the debate over judicial independence in Ghana, as the nation awaits the outcome of the investigation.