Former Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North Kwame Andy Appiah-Kubi, has advised the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, to adopt ways to calm tensions during vetting.
He makes the point that whenever there is a heated argument, the committee should retire to the chamber for the leadership to resolve the issue and get the vetting process moving.
“Anytime there is serious disagreement, rise to go to the chamber and resolve it. When things heat up, retire to the chamber and sort things out; then you continue the vetting process,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, August 29.
He stressed, “The committee needs to build consensus and reconcile their differences. There is no need to come and be fighting in the public space.”
The Minority members on Parliament’s Appointments Committee boycotted the vetting proceedings when the Committee was vetting three Supreme Court judge nominees by President John Mahama.
They cited what they term irregular procedure adopted by the leadership of the Committee.
The Supreme Court nominees who have since been approved 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.
Before leaving the session, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated their objection to the procedure adopted by the leadership of the Committee.
“The procedure that has been adopted is at variance with the orders of the House. How can you ask us to vet Supreme Court judges with three days’ notice,” he queried.
This was preceded by extensive debate between him and the Chairman of the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor.
“The standard practice is to give fourteen days’ notice, advertise in the newspapers before the vetting is done,” Afenyo-Markin stressed.
He proceeded to read concerns raised by then Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, when a similar situation, in which a short notice was given for the vetting of Supreme Court nominees.
Afenyo-Markin stated that, “to the nominees, we are not against your nomination, we are against the procedure and we cannot be part of this.”
He then walked out, followed by other Minority members of the Committee.
Andy Appiah Kubi, reacting to this, said: “I thought they could have resolved the issue before walking out.”
