Minority walks out of vetting for 3 Supreme Court justice nominees
The Minority Caucus in Parliament on Thursday walked out of the Appointments Committee’s proceedings over the vetting of three nominees for appointment to the Supreme Court, escalating a standoff over the timetable for considering the nominations.
The Minority Party in Ghana's Parliament walked out of a crucial parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday, protesting the rapid vetting process for three potential Supreme Court justices. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin led the walkout, arguing that the process was moving too quickly without adequate parliamentary scrutiny and public input.
The three nominees in question are Justice Sophia Rosetta Obuokuwa Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jr. Afenyo-Markin stressed that the opposition was not aimed at the nominees themselves or President Mahama's authority to nominate, but rather at the decision to finalize the process within the remaining days of Parliament's emergency recall.
The Minority Party contends that the Supreme Court is fully staffed and that there is no urgent need for new appointments, as the existing justices are already performing their duties. They urged the committee to follow the standard parliamentary procedures, giving the public a chance to voice their concerns about the nominees before any final decisions are made.
This dispute effectively halted the vetting process, as the Minority Party insisted that the nomination consideration be postponed. The Majority Party, however, insisted on adhering to the five-day emergency recall period, which commenced on Monday, August 24, 2026, and concluded on Friday, August 28. Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin explained that the recall was designed to address pressing government matters, including the review of these Supreme Court nominations.
The Minority Party remains open to collaborating on the vetting of two other ministerial nominees but demands that the Supreme Court nominations be held until a more thorough review can be conducted. The walkout highlights the tension between speedy parliamentary business and the importance of thorough judicial scrutiny, leaving open questions about whether these nominations can be processed before the current emergency session concludes.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
