The Minority in Parliament has called for the deferment of the Supreme Court nominees vetting, insisting there is no vacancy or emergency on the bench to justify what it describes as a rushed process.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said ahead of the exercise on Thursday, August 27, that the Supreme Court currently has its full complement of justices and continues to hear cases and deliver judgments.
“If there is no vacancy to fill, there is certainly no emergency compelling anyone to fill it inside three days. There is no fire here,” he said.
Minority Questions Urgency
The three nominees are Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah of the Court of Appeal, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, also of the Court of Appeal and former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jr, a former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that the nominees are being proposed as additional justices rather than replacements for immediate vacancies.
He said Parliament could conduct the vetting in September and submit the Appointments Committee’s report when the House resumes in October.
The Minority Leader also dismissed suggestions that the judicial vacation had created an emergency, maintaining that the Supreme Court continues to sit when urgent cases require attention.
Ministerial Vetting Gets Minority Support
The Minority, however, says it supports the prompt vetting of Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga and Korle Klottey MP Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
The two have been nominated for the Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry and the Environment, Science and Technology Ministry respectively.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the caucus would not support an expedited Supreme Court process that could weaken Parliament’s scrutiny role.
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