The Minority in Parliament has kicked against the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees, describing the process as rushed and procedurally improper.
This was at a press conference by the Minority today, Thursday, August 27, 2026, over the scheduled vetting of nominees for the Supreme Court.
Parliament was recalled from recess by Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on Monday, August 24, following a request from President John Dramani Mahama to consider urgent matters of state.
Among the urgent business referred to the Appointments Committee are two ministerial nominees; Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, as Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP for Klottey Korle, as Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology, as well as three nominees for the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court nominees are Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, also a Court of Appeal Justice and former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; and Anthony Forson Jr., a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
The Appointments Committee was scheduled to vet all five nominees on Tuesday, but was postponed to today, Thursday, August 27, following the announcement of their nomination on August 21.
But addressing the press, Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, said the Minority is not opposed to the persons nominated but to the principle and the haste.
“We are not opposed to the nomination but let’s point one fact that NDC is unprincipled, inconsistent and act out of political convenience,” he said.
He questioned the governing National Democratic Congress for nominating three more justices after previously accusing the Akufo-Addo government of packing the court. “NDC has appointed 10 judges for the Supreme Court; does that amount to packing of the Court as they once said?” he asked.
Afenyo-Markin warned that rushing the process could undermine the legitimacy of the nominees. “Proceeding to vet these nominees presents dangers, like questions over manner in which they’re vetted,” he said.
“This is the first time NDC is using its super majority to vet SC nominees in just three days after notice. Deferring vetting of three SC nominees a few weeks will not cause any harm,” he added.
According to him, there is no constitutional or procedural urgency to justify the fast-track vetting of the nominees.
“No provision in our Standing Orders prevents a committee from taking its time to undertake a duty. There is no vacancy and there is no emergency on the bench today,” he stressed.
He referenced delays in filling vacancies that arose after the military helicopter crash last year, and what has necessitated the need for the rush to vet the nominees. “There was real vacancy after the helicopter crash, but the President waited for a full year to replace them.”
The Minority Leader said while they will participate in the vetting of the ministerial nominees, they will not be part of the Supreme Court vetting.
“Nothing about our justice system is on life support. We will vet the 2 ministerial nominees, but will not accept the 3 SC nominees,” he stated.
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