The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has urged the 7 Supreme Court justices nominees awaiting vetting to defend the constitution and not become an instrument to champion the agenda of the Executive.
Afenyo-Markin who was addressing committee members at the vetting of the 7 Supreme Court justices nominees by president John Mahama urged them to become the guardians of the 1992 constitution as Justices of the Superior Court.
“To our nominees, you seek to join an institution whose legitimacy rest on public confidence in your constitutional fidelity. You must become guardians of our constitutional law and not an instrument of executive convenience.”
“The Supreme Court’s authority derived from moral standing, not political alignment. True Judicial independence requires constitutional courage. Deciding cases on law and precedent and not political preferences. It means protecting minority rights against majoritarian excesses,” Afenyo-Markin said as monitored by newsdesksgh.com.
He added the nominees if approved must defend the rights of all Ghanaians and must be prepared to disappoint the one who appointed them to the Supreme Court bench.
“It means sometimes disappointing those who appointed you because the constitution demands nothing less. This committee bears solemn responsibility for ensuring only nominees demonstrating on bending commitment to judicial independence receiving approval. We must probe not only legal knowledge but constitutional philosophy and commitment to deciding cases without political interference.”
