ELS: MBN360 NEWS
The Minority in Parliament has boycotted the vetting of three nominees for the Supreme Court, saying the process is being rushed.
The Minority said there is currently no vacant position on the Supreme Court that requires the appointments to be handled with urgency. It argued that the nominees are being considered to increase the number of Justices rather than to fill vacant positions.
Speaking before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 27, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the Minority was not opposed to the nominees or the vetting process itself. According to him, the main concern is how parliamentary processes for such vetting is being truncated and unduly rushed, giving Parliament little time to consider the nominations.
Mr Afenyo-Markin called on the Majority to explain why the nominees could not be subjected to the normal parliamentary process which gives the public and interested stakeholders time to raise issues about the suitability of the nominee if any.
He proposed that the committee suspend the vetting and allow the required 14-day period for public notice and consideration of the nominations.
Read also:
- Appointments Committee recommends three Supreme Court nominees for approval
- 48-Hour Rule: Suspects can sue Police over prolonged detention – Justice Amoako Asante
- Do Not Use Majority Numbers To Stampede Process — Minority Leader
- Prez Mahama Cuts Sod for Flagship Airport Project
- Beyoncé Unveils B’Day 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Pre-Order
The Minority Leader said the decision was not meant to delay Parliament’s work or embarrass the nominees. He said the Minority wanted the process to follow parliamentary rules and constitutional requirements.
However, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, rejected the Minority’s concerns and described the reasons given by the Minority as “flimsy”, “hollow” and “baseless”.
Mr Ahiafor said members who disagreed with a decision of Parliament should use the procedures provided under Parliament’s Standing Orders to seek a reversal.
He also rejected the argument that the Supreme Court nominees should be treated differently from other nominees appearing before the committee.
Following the chairman’s decision to proceed with the vetting, the Minority, led by Mr Afenyo-Markin, walked out of the committee.
The three nominees are Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, also a Court of Appeal Justice and former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jr., a former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
