Tensions flared in Parliament as MPs Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Mahama Ayariga clashed over procedural matters during the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for the position of Chief Justice.
The disagreement arose over what each lawmaker described as the proper conduct and sequence of questions during the confirmation process.
Afenyo-Markin, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who doubles as the Leader of the Minority, insisted that the vetting follow established parliamentary protocols to ensure a thorough and orderly evaluation.
The vetting session for Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, chaired by First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor, was dominated by a tense confrontation between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.
The two leaders disagreed sharply over language, procedure, and the interpretation of parliamentary rules. What was expected to be a routine vetting quickly turned into a debate over whether the Minority had the right to question the process that led to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and the constitutional basis of the current nomination.
Speaking on behalf of the Minority Caucus, Afenyo-Markin described the vetting as: “a test of whether Ghana’s judiciary will remain independent or fall under executive and political control.”
He also referred to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as a “disputed nominee,” a remark that drew immediate objections from the Majority side.
Rising on a point of order, Ayariga cited Standing Orders 122 and 123, arguing that the comment breached parliamentary procedure.
“You are not in court challenging his nomination,” Ayariga said. “To the extent that there is no dispute before any court or this committee, it is wrong to refer to him as a disputed nominee.”
In response, Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority Leader of trying to intimidate the Minority and suppress legitimate concerns:
“The rule he relied upon applies to debate on the floor, not to this committee. This attempt to silence the Minority is wrong. We have a right to make our position known.”
The exchanges drew in other committee members. Alhassan Tampuli, MP for Gushegu, appealed to the Chair to allow the Minority Leader to finish his statement to ensure fairness. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Minority Chief Whip, added that parliamentary practice, not just written rules, should guide such proceedings.
Chairman Ahiafor repeatedly called for calm, urging members to stay within procedural limits. He cautioned both leaders against offensive language and directed that the term “disputed nominee” be removed from the official record.
Tension flared again when Afenyo-Markin described the committee that investigated Justice Torkornoo’s removal as having acted:
“in opaque circumstances,” calling it “a travesty of justice.”
Ayariga objected, prompting another ruling from the Chair that the remarks be expunged to protect the rights of persons not present before the committee. At one point, Ahiafor reminded members that:
“The whole world is watching,” emphasising that the committee was not sitting to review the actions of another judicial or parliamentary body.
For over an hour, the exchanges overshadowed the substantive vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, as members focused more on procedural disputes than the nominee’s qualifications. Alhassan Tampuli, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor also contributed to debates on the validity of objections raised by Ayariga and Afenyo-Markin, discussing whether arguments were grounded in the rules or parliamentary practice.
To ease tensions, Chairman Ahiafor later called for a cocoa break before proceedings resumed with the substantive vetting of the nominee.
