Parliament has approved the appointment of three nominees to the Supreme Court despite opposition from the Minority Caucus.
The approval was reached by a majority decision at both the Appointments Committee and plenary stages.
The approved nominees are Court of Appeal Justices Edward Amoako Asante and Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, as well as private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jr.
The decision followed a report presented by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee and First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor. He recommended that the House adopt the committee’s report and approve the three nominees, stating that they had met the constitutional requirements under Article 104.
Minority Walkout
Mr Ahiafor disclosed that the Minority Caucus had raised preliminary objections before the vetting of the nominees. Although the objections were addressed, Minority members subsequently walked out of the proceedings, declaring that they would no longer participate in the vetting process.
According to him, the majority of members present and voting later endorsed the three nominees for appointment to the Supreme Court.
Minority Explains Its Position
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin defended the Caucus’ decision to oppose the approval, saying it was based on procedural and constitutional concerns rather than opposition to the nominees themselves.
He explained that the nominees had been referred to the Appointments Committee alongside two ministerial nominees during Parliament’s emergency recall. This, he argued, left the committee with only three working days to vet five nominees for some of the country’s most important public offices.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority raised a preliminary objection before any questions were put to the judicial nominees. He said the objection was based on nine separate grounds drawn from the Constitution and Parliament’s Standing Orders, but was rejected by the committee chairman.
Following the dismissal of the objection, the Minority withdrew from the proceedings.
The Minority Leader stressed that the Caucus’ position was not a reflection on the three nominees.
He said the Minority had not questioned the character, competence or professional standing of Justices Sophia Bernasko Essah and Edward Amoako Asante or Mr Anthony Forson Jr., but was instead challenging the process through which their nominations were handled.
Mr Afenyo-Markin subsequently outlined the nine grounds on which the Minority had based its preliminary objection to the vetting.
