Picking Chief Justices nearing retirement could give Mahama immense power – Bentil

Vice-President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has suggested that appointing Chief Justices close to retirement could grant President John Mahama significant control by enabling him to select subsequent leaders of the judiciary. During an appearance on JoyNews’ PM Express, Bentil commented that potential appointees could factor in the remaining years of their tenure as a political consideration.

"If the president wants to wrestle power, he will go the route of picking people with short times to go," Bentil stated. He clarified that this was a potential scenario, not a statement about Mahama’s intentions. Bentil explained that selecting judges with brief time remaining could allow Mahama to appoint at least two Chief Justices before leaving office.

This issue arises as Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie nears retirement. His departure will necessitate another appointment to head the judiciary. While Bentil emphasized the importance of competence, he suggested that loyalty might also play a role in the decision-making process. He noted that the judges under consideration were well-qualified for the role, stating, "There can be no mistake, regardless of who is picked.

They are all really fit." The decisive factor, according to Bentil, could be the President’s comfort with a candidate. "I think that to the extent that it is the president who picks, he will pick a choice that is comfortable for him." Bentil advocated for an appointment that would help restore public confidence in the judiciary following recent turmoil.

He acknowledged that no candidate would please everyone, but he desired a choice that could garner broad acceptance from judges, lawyers, and the public. Despite his concerns about political considerations, Bentil expressed confidence in the available candidates, stating, "I think ultimately the president will make a good choice because fortunately we have very good people over there, but he will make the choice."