By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, Aug. 27, GNA— The New Patriotic Party Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the vetting of the three Supreme Court nominees to be deferred, arguing that there is no emergency vacancy on the bench to warrant an expedited process.
The three nominees—Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah, Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Court of Appeal Justice and former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; and Mr Anthony Forson Jnr., a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association—are scheduled to be vetted on Thursday, August 27.
Speaking ahead of the exercise, Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader Alexander, said the Supreme Court was currently operating with its full complement of justices and continued to hear cases and deliver judgments.
He argued that the nominations were for additional justices and not to immediately fill a critical vacancy, questioning the urgency behind the process.
“If there is no vacancy to fill, there is certainly no emergency compelling anyone to fill it inside three days. There is no fire here,” Mr Afenyo-Markin stated.
The Minority Leader dismissed suggestions that the ongoing judicial vacation had created an emergency situation, noting that the apex court continued to sit to determine urgent matters.
He proposed that the Appointments Committee of Parliament could conduct the vetting in September and present its report when Parliament resumed in October, stressing that Parliament had sufficient time to ensure thorough scrutiny.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, however, said the Minority would support the prompt vetting of the two ministerial nominees — Mr Mahama Ayariga, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, and Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the NDC MP for Korle Klottey—who are awaiting vetting for the portfolios of Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, respectively.
He maintained that the Minority would not support what he described as an unnecessary rush to approve the Supreme Court nominees, insisting that due diligence must not be compromised.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA
Email: [email protected]