Minority rejects rushed vetting of three Supreme Court nominees

The Minority in Parliament has called for a delay in the vetting process for three Supreme Court nominees, asserting that there is no pressing need to expedite the procedure. During the vetting hearings scheduled for Thursday, August 27, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin contended that the Supreme Court is presently functioning at full capacity and continues to adjudicate cases and issue rulings when required.

He questioned the urgency behind the nominees, pointing out that they are not being proposed as replacements for vacant seats but as additional justices. "If there is no vacancy to fill, there certainly is no emergency compelling anyone to fill it within three days," Afenyo-Markin emphasized. The three nominees are Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah, a Court of Appeal Justice; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, a Court of Appeal Justice and former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; and Anthony Forson Jr, a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.

Afenyo-Markin argued that there is no pressing need for the three nominees to undergo vetting and approval before Parliament's recall session concludes on Friday, August 28. The Speaker referred five names, including three nominees for the Supreme Court and two for ministerial positions, to the Appointments Committee on the opening day of the emergency recall session.

He noted that the Majority party's insistence on having all five nominees vetted, reported on, and approved before the House adjourns on Friday is what the Minority is opposing. The recall session concludes tomorrow, Friday. The Majority now seeks all five nominees to undergo the vetting, reporting, and approval process before the House adjourns.

The Minority Leader argued that Parliament possesses ample time to vet the nominees, suggesting that the relevant committee could conduct the process in September and present its report when the House reconvenes in October. He also rejected claims that the current judicial vacancy warranted an emergency response, asserting that the Supreme Court continues to meet and adjudicate urgent matters.

The Minority Leader indicated that the caucus would, however, support the prompt vetting of the two ministerial nominees - Mahama Ayariga and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings - for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Environment, Science and Technology, respectively.