The opposition lawmakers had raised issues against the nomination and also the processes that led to the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice.
“We vote to reject the nominee, the Majority can proceed with the questions, we do not intend to proceed with any question. We are, however, registering in the strongest terms that we reject the nomination, and the records should reflect that the report of this committee be a majority report,” their leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said during the vetting process.
The Chair of the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, said, “We thank you very much, we wish you well.”
There was a heated banter between Mahama Ayariga and Alexander Afenyo Markin, Majority and Minority leaders respectively, during the vetting of the Chief Justice nominee.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, 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 tp him as a disputed nominee.
Chair of the committee Bernard Ahiafor asked the Minority Leader to refrain from using such descriptions.
‘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.
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 tp him as a disputed nominee.
Chair of the committee Bernard Ahiafor asked the Minority Leader to refrain from using such descriptions.
‘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.
Source: 3news.com
