Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) have staged a walkout during the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for the position of Chief Justice after hours of heated exchanges with the Majority MPs.

According to the Minority Leader, the caucus cannot take part in proceedings that may be denying the former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo of her rights.

The vetting, whic is happening on Monday November 10, and is chaired by First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Bernard Ahiafor, was forced to take a break following repeated objections and back-and-forth arguments that slowed proceedings.

By the time the committee reconvened, several hours after the sitting had begun, the Chief Justice nominee had yet to be asked a single question or provide any responses due to the prolonged disagreements.

Upon resumption, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin soon announced the caucus’s decision to withdraw from the session.

“We, the Minority Caucus, hereby vote en bloc to reject the nominee,” he declared.

“We would want to state on record that the Majority can proceed with the questions. We do not intend to proceed with any question,” he added.

“We are, however, registering in the strongest terms that we reject the nomination, and the records should reflect that the report of this committee will be a Majority report,” he stressed.

Afenyo-Markin stressed that the Minority’s opposition was grounded in legal concerns.

“We don’t need to vet a nominee before we vote against the nominee. We have preliminary issues well grounded in law,” he stated.

“We cannot be part of a process that would give rights to one and deny another of her bona fides as enshrined in the Constitution,” he added.

Concluding his remarks, the Minority Leader said, “Chairman, that said, we would yield to you to proceed as we exit this committee room with our views well documented for the record.”

On that note, Mr. Afenyo-Markin and Minority MPs walked out of the committee room, after which the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie commenced.