Accra, Ghana – Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has stated that the peaceful demonstration by a coalition of political parties against the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo is evidence of President John Dramani Mahama’s strong commitment to upholding democratic values in Ghana.
Speaking in front of the Jubilee House on Monday, May 5, after receiving a petition from the protestors led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Mr. Dogbe emphasized that President Mahama is not a leader who engages in political retaliation which is a sharp contrast to the previous administration.
“If it were the case, like this, over the past eight years, I’m sure that the retaliatory politics that we talk about wouldn’t have been the case. The fact that you are referencing retaliatory politics is an admission that the eight years of President Akufo-Addo and Mahamudu Bawumia were not the best,” Mr. Dogbe remarked.
He reassured the protesters that President Mahama remains focused on unity and nation-building, not revenge.
“You can be assured, however, that President Mahama, as every Ghanaian knows, is not that politician. President Mahama does not believe in retaliatory politics,” he stated.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the Chief Justice’s suspension, Mr. Dogbe defended the President’s actions as constitutionally grounded and in line with due process.
“Whatever actions that are being taken now, whatever decisions that are being taken now, as everybody knows, is in line with the provisions of our 1992 Constitution,” he explained.
He further referenced a precedent set by former President Akufo-Addo, who had also initiated a constitutional process involving the Chief Justice before leaving office.
“Indeed, before President Akufo-Addo left the presidency, he himself had started a certain process where issues were brought to him about the Chief Justice and he referred them to the Council of State. And that is what President Mahama has done,” Mr. Dogbe said.
He rejected claims that the current administration’s actions were in retaliation for past events involving the opposition or former President Mahama.
“It is not about retaliating on something that was done by the previous administration against President Mahama or the NDC. The process that is ongoing is constitutional and I do believe that if the committee that has been set completes its work, whatever decisions that they make, just as the Council of State advised to the President, it will be binding on him,” he noted.
Mr. Dogbe also commended the demonstrators for their peaceful conduct and reiterated the administration’s commitment to protecting civil liberties.
“I can assure you and the people of Ghana that we appreciate the fact that just as government ensures that you went about your demonstration peacefully, there was one also last weekend, peacefully without any attempt at preventing you from expressing yourselves, we will continue to allow for that peaceful expression of ourselves in this country under President Mahama,” he affirmed.
He praised President Mahama for restoring confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions in less than 120 days in office.
“Nobody is going to inhibit or stop anybody from doing that. That should tell you that President Mahama in just less than 120 days has demonstrated how he is going to save the democracy of Ghana. He is going to grow the democracy of this country and we are going to be together,” he said.
Mr. Dogbe concluded by assuring the protesting parties that government is open to dialogue and collaboration for the national good.
“We will work together with you and all the political parties and your petition will be given the due response,” he stated.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites
) / Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 
