Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has questioned the excessive haste with which Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is being screened.
He questioned whether, given the numerous pending constitutional disputes surrounding the nominee, Parliament should move on with the Appointments Committee’s planned vetting on Monday, November 10, 2025.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin brought up the subject on Friday as the Business Committee’s statement was being considered on the floor of Parliament. He said that if the House approved the screening in the midst of what he called concerning ongoing legal challenges, it would be undermining the rule of law.
The case of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who is contesting her dismissal, was referenced by the Minority Leader, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, as an illustration of Acting Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s delayed justice.
The House approved the Business Committee report, which included Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s screening today, despite the Minority Leader’s objections.
In the meantime, Speaker Bagbin denied the Minority Leader’s request to stop Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s screening until outstanding matters involving previous Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo are settled.
The Speaker denied the motion in his decision on Friday, noting that legal processes cannot interfere with Parliament’s fundamental duties.
He said, “There is no constitutional or standing order basis for Parliament to hold the process simply because there are pending cases in court.”
He decided that granting the motion would “set a dangerous precedent.”
Speaker Bagbin said, “Should I accept that argument, it will mean that any litigant could hold Parliament hostage; that is, file a case and freeze the work of Parliament and its committees.”
Source: newsthemegh.com