The Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has told the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, that his comments against the works of the Gabriel Pwamang committee that recommended the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice offended the rules of the committee.
In the view of Mr Ahiafor, it was not fair for the committee to be criticised in that manner when they do not have the opportunity to respond.
The Minority Leader had said that the work of the committee that recommended the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice was a travesty of Justice.
He made this point when the Chief Justice nominee, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, appeared before the Appointment Committee for his vetting on Monday, November 10.
“What the committee did amounts to a travesty of justice,” he said. He said the Minority’s view was that the process of the removal of Madam Torkornoo was “clothed in some opaque circumstances unacceptable.”
Afenyo-Markin further said that his side of the house has the right to describe Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the disputed Chief Justice nominee.
“We gather to vet the disputed nominee for the office of Chief Justice. This is a case of whether Ghana’s judiciary will remain independent,” he said during the vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament. He added, “It’s the Minority’s view to describe Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as the disputed Chief Justice.”
But the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, objected to his use of a disputed nominee comment.
“I am objecting to the term dispute because there is no dispute regarding the nominee before us,” Ayariga said. He stressed, “There is no dispute about his nomination. You have no right to look into my face and refer to him as a disputed nominee.
Chair of the committee Bernard Ahiafor asked the Minority Leader to refrain from using such descriptions. He further stated that none of the committee members was present to respond to him; therefore, Afenyo’s comments were against the rules of the committee and further ruled that those comments be expunged from the records.
‘Minority Leader, the speaker has dealt with this matter; refrain from the use of this description.”
The nominee appeared before the committee on Monday, November 10.
A Court of Appeal judge, Yaw Oppong, was in parliament on Monday, November 10, to support the Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, during his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Yaw Oppong expressed confidence that Justice Baffoe Bonnie knows the relevant provisions to help him answer all the questions during the screening by the committee.
Asked for his expectation, he told TV3 that ” Justice Baffoe Bonnie has been a justice of the Supreme Court, from the High Court, Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court for many years. I am certain that he knows the relevant provisions, and he knows what is expected of him. This is not the first time he is being vetted. When he became a Supreme Court judge, he was vetted, so I think he is a veteran in this area. Less Ghasa prevail.”
Following the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior among the nine remaining justices of the Supreme Court, stepped in to serve as the Acting Chief Justice of Ghana.
Born on December 26, 1956, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie brings over three decades of distinguished service to the nation’s judiciary.
His journey in the legal and public service sectors has been marked by notable versatility and dedication. Before ascending to the Supreme Court bench in 2008, he served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, a High Court Judge, and a Circuit Court Judge.
A proud alumnus of Konongo-Odumase Secondary School, he pursued higher education at the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law, institutions that laid the foundation for his illustrious career.
Within the judicial system, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is highly regarded for his expertise in constitutional law, taxation, prison administration, election law, and legal education. He has been instrumental in several judicial reforms and continues to champion the cause of ethical practice and professional development within the judiciary.
Currently, he chairs key bodies within the Judicial Service, including the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council, the Election Management Committee, and the Finance Committee. His contributions also extend internationally, having participated in numerous global judicial conferences and capacity-building initiatives.
Known for his integrity, strong leadership, and commitment to justice, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie steps into the Acting Chief Justice role with a wealth of experience and a steady hand during a crucial time for Ghana’s judiciary.
