‘Flimsy, hollow, baseless’ – Ahiafor dismisses Minority’s objection to judges’ vetting

Parliament's Appointments Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor has dismissed the Minority Party's objection to the vetting process for three Supreme Court nominees. Ahiafor termed the Minority's arguments as "flimsy", "hollow", and "baseless". Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin had requested the Committee to postpone the exercise, citing the absence of an immediate vacancy on the Supreme Court.

He also queried why the nominees were being treated as additional justices and advocated for a 14-day advertisement period prior to vetting. The nominees in question are Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, both from the Court of Appeal, and Anthony Forson Jr., a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.

Ahiafor clarified that the Committee lacks the authority to override a decision made by the full House. He emphasized that while the House has the right to modify the Committee's decisions, the Committee cannot alter the House's decisions. Any member dissatisfied with a Parliament decision should adhere to the Standing Orders to request a reversal.

Ahiafor rejected the Minority's plea to apply a distinct standard to the judicial nominees, asserting that every nominee should be evaluated equally. "I will not preside over this committee and disregard the House's decision," Ahiafor stated, adding, "Such actions do not align with any democracy, and I will not be the first to introduce this in Ghana's democracy."

Ahiafor also rejected the calls to apply different procedures to judicial nominees, emphasizing the need for equal treatment of all nominees. "I will not preside over this committee and discriminate against the judges, allow the vetting of our colleagues, and then reject the vetting of the judges' nominees," he added.