Baffoe-Bonnie faces Appointments Committee today

Parliament will today begin the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie after Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin dismissed a motion seeking to suspend the process.

The vetting, scheduled for 11:00 a.m., will be conducted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament to assess Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s competence, judicial philosophy, and vision for the judiciary before making recommendations to the House.

His nomination by President John Dramani Mahama follows the dismissal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who served from 2023.

The session, confirmed in a statement by Parliament’s Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, is expected to attract keen interest from legislators and the public, given ongoing debates about judicial independence and constitutional balance among state institutions.

Speaker Bagbin’s ruling last Friday cleared the way for the vetting after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin filed a motion urging Parliament to defer the process until the Supreme Court concluded a case related to Justice Torkornoo’s removal.

In a ruling, the Speaker held that the motion was “constitutionally and procedurally unsustainable,” explaining that Articles 102 and 103 of the Standing Orders empowered him to decide the admissibility of motions.

“After deep consideration, I find no basis to exercise discretion to admit this motion,” he said.

Mr. Bagbin stressed that Parliament could not suspend its duties because of a pending court case, warning that such a move “would set a dangerous precedent.”

He emphasised that the legislature must fulfil its constitutional obligation under Article 144(1) to consider the President’s nomination for Chief Justice.

“The Supreme Court is vested with adequate powers to reverse any action should they deem it unconstitutional,” the Speaker stated, adding that “judicial independence should not mean legislative paralysis.”

He said Parliament’s authority remains intact unless an injunctive order is issued. “Is the purpose of an injunction to undermine the work of another arm of the state?” he asked rhetorically, reinforcing his decision that the vetting must proceed.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who has served as acting Chief Justice since April 23 by virtue of being the most senior Justice on the Supreme Court, now awaits formal confirmation to head Ghana’s judiciary.

His nomination marks the first time in 24 years that a National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration has had the opportunity to nominate a Chief Justice since Ghana’s return to constitutional rule in 1992.