A tense atmosphere filled Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday as Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin delivered a blistering statement rejecting the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice, describing the vetting process as a constitutional travesty and a threat to judicial independence.
Speaking moments before the Minority caucus staged a walkout from the vetting session, Afenyo-Markin said the opposition’s decision was rooted in principle, not partisanship. He accused the majority side of “denying us every opportunity to express our opinion on a matter of great national consequence,” lamenting that a motion they had filed to suspend the vetting had been “silenced without due consideration.”
“Chairman, it is regrettable that our motion, which was intended to have dealt with this matter, did not see the light of day,” he declared. “We hold the view that the judiciary is not the enforcement arm of the executive. It is neither parliamentary nor political in projects. It is the guardian of our Constitution, the protector of our rights, and the final arbiter of our laws.”
Afenyo-Markin further argued that the ongoing legal challenges against the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo made the vetting process premature and constitutionally questionable. He revealed that Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo was presiding over cases directly linked to the process leading to Justice Torkornoo’s dismissal, insisting that the acting Chief Justice had “administrative power” to ensure a fair and timely hearing of those suits.
“Just as injunction applications were held expeditiously, the same could have applied in this instance,” he noted, suggesting that judicial due process had been compromised to hasten the current appointment.
The Minority Leader emphasised that his caucus’s rejection of the nominee was a defence of judicial integrity rather than opposition to the individual.
“Its independence is sacrosanct. Its integrity is non-negotiable. It is the oracle of justice emanating from the people of Ghana,” he said passionately. “For all the reasons given—including the actions of the Majority Leader basically denying us every opportunity of expressing our opinion—we, the Minority caucus, hereby vote to reject the nominee.”
Afenyo-Markin also took aim at what he described as a pattern of disrespect toward the Minority’s constitutional concerns, calling for civility and respect among colleagues.
“Honourable colleague, when we show you respect, reciprocate. So far, we have endured unpalatable words and abuse. We don’t need to vet a nominee before we vote against the nominee. We have preliminary issues well grounded in law,” he stressed.
Concluding his address, the Minority Leader formally withdrew his side from the vetting session, stating that their exit would serve as a symbolic protest and a constitutional statement.
“Chairman, that’s it. We yield to you to proceed. Whilst we exit this committee room, our views are well documented for the records. On the floor, we shall proceed with a debate, further stating our position, and take a vote against the nominee as required by the rules of the Plenary.”
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