The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has rejected a motion by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin seeking to suspend the vetting of acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie until pending court cases involving former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo are concluded.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament filed a motion calling for the suspension of all proceedings on the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice.
The motion issued on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, by the Caucus demanded that all pending legal cases concerning the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo be resolved.
The motion filed by five applicants of the Minority Caucus to the Clerk to Parliament cited Articles 110(1), 125–127, 144(1), and 146 of the 1992 Constitution and relevant Standing Orders, and urged “Parliament to suspend the Appointments Committee’s vetting and any plenary debate or approval processes.”
Among the applicants are Anyimadu Antwi, the NPP Member of Parliament for Asante Akim Central; John Darko, NPP MP for Suame; Madam Gloria Owusu, NPP MP for Trobu; Madam Damata Salam Ama Appianimaa, NPP MP for Afigya Kwabre South; Alhassan Suleman Tampuli, NPP for Gushegu; and Kwabena Boateng, NPP MP for Ejisu.
The motion also referenced multiple ongoing cases, including an ECOWAS Court suit (No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25) and other applications before the Supreme Court and High Court, which directly related to Justice Torkornoo’s removal.
It further requested that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, appear before Parliament to provide a comprehensive briefing on the status of all litigation related to the matter.
However, Alban Bagbin dismissed calls filed by the Minority for the suspension of parliamentary proceedings over court actions, stressing that the legislature’s constitutional duties cannot be halted at the instance of litigation.
Delivering his ruling on Friday, November 7, 2025, the Speaker emphasised that there was no constitutional or procedural justification for Parliament to pause its work because of a pending court case.
“There is no constitutional or standing order basis for Parliament to hold the process simply because there are pending cases in court,” Bagbin stated.
He cautioned that yielding to such an argument would set a dangerous precedent.
He 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.”
Consequently, the Speaker declared the motion inadmissible and directed that it be returned to its sponsor, the Minority Leader.
“The motion is inadmissible, and the same has been returned to the sponsor, the Minority Leader, Honourable Alexander Afenyo-Markin, as stated clearly by our standing orders,” he added.
