Minority rejects and walks out of Chief Justice vetting

Parliament’s Appointments Committee proceeded with the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie on Monday, amidst a boycott by the Minority, who disputed the process.

Tensions escalated when Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin characterized the nominee as ‘disputed’ in his introductory remarks, prompting an objection from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.

Ayariga contended that the term was objectionable, as Parliament’s Standing Orders bar MPs from questioning matters already decided by the House.

Afenyo-Markin countered that the Majority Leader sought to muzzle the Minority, preventing them from articulating their political views, and asserted that ‘as political actors, we have the right to speak and express our opinions.’

The confrontation was part of a deadlock over the report produced by a separate committee that led to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The Minority has repeatedly described her removal as a “travesty of justice” and questioned the legality and transparency of the process.

Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, intervened during the proceedings, ordering that any references to the Torkornoo report or Justice Gabriel Pwamang, who chaired the investigative panel, be expunged from the official record, noting that committee members would not have an opportunity to respond.

Despite the boycott and the deadlock, the committee proceeded with the vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.