The vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for the position of Chief Justice of Ghana began on a tense note as Minority and Majority Leaders clashed over a description of the nominee as a “disputed nominee.”
Speaking at the start of proceedings, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the Minority attended the vetting despite their reservations about the proceedings.
“We are here with a heavy heart but an unshakable resolve to defend the constitution of Ghana, protect judicial independence and uphold the rule of law.”
“We gather to vet a disputed nominee for the office of Chief Justice of Ghana. This should be a moment of national pride and institutional renewal; instead, it has become a test of whether Ghana’s judiciary will remain independent or fall under executive and political control,” he stated.
His comment immediately drew an objection from the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who cited parliamentary procedure.
“Our rules say we should be here, and the same rules indicate what we can do or not do,” he said, referring to Orders 122 and 123 of the Standing Orders.
Mahama Ayariga explained, “Order 123 talks about the content of speeches whereas 122 provides the grounds on which debate can be interrupted,” adding that his objection was based on the content of speeches.
“I’ve heard the Ranking Member of the Committee refer to the nominee as a disputed nominee to the post of Chief Justice. Order 123 says a member shall not raise any specific question upon which the House has come to a conclusion during the current session except on a substantive motion for rescission,” he said.
The Majority Leader added, “A couple of days ago, the same member brought a motion to the House trying to stop this committee from sitting to vet the nominee. The matter was exhaustively debated, and the Speaker gave a ruling.”
“The Ranking Member has no right, no authority to raise anything about what happened in court, the processes leading to a removal of anybody, and the nomination of anybody. I am objecting to the use of the term ‘disputed nominee’ because there’s no dispute before us regarding the nomination,” he stressed.
In response, Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority Leader of acting in bad faith and attempting to obstruct the process.
“The Majority Leader is clearly acting in bad faith, seeking to obstruct the rather peaceful processes we have started and, as it were, try to use his numbers to intimidate,” he said.
“There are dark clouds in this country where freedom of speech, by mere operation of a supermajority, you cannot even as a Member of Parliament make your comment. This situation where people move from here and there to create confusion and their own jurisprudence must come to an end,” he added.
He argued that his statement did not breach parliamentary procedure.
“The rule he relied on has to do with debate on the floor of the House. I’m not moving a motion; I am not debating,” he said.
“The matters giving rise to the nomination are purely political, and every Ghanaian adult knows this. Your side raised it as a political issue during the campaign, that you were going to remove Justice Torkornoo as Chief Justice, and that has happened,” he continued.
“If in my statement, I contextualize to say ‘disputed nominee,’ it is a view we hold as Minority caucus. Can’t I have these bona fides also, that I have to be obstructed by the Majority Leader?” he asked.
He appealed to the Committee Chairman to “control proceedings” and ensure a fair process.
“Chairman, humbly please control proceedings. Please take charge. Let our respected Leader of Government Business understand that after making my comments known on behalf of the Minority, he can seek your leave to also make his opening remarks,” he said.
The vetting process of the Justice Baffoe-Bonnie by the Parliamentary Appointment Committee is currently ongoing at Parliament on November 10, 2025.
