Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie, a nominee for the position of Chief Justice, is scheduled to appear before the Appointments Committee of Parliament today, Monday, November 10, 2025.
Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, confirmed this during the presentation of the business statement on Friday.
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He emphasised that the vetting process was a crucial step in fulfilling constitutional requirements for the appointment of a new Chief Justice.
However, the announcement sparked debate within the House, with the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, raising concerns that vetting of the nominee could interfere with the ongoing legislative process.
He pointed out that there were pending court cases filed by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, which, in his view, should be resolved before Parliament undertakes the vetting exercise.
The contrasting positions between the Majority and Minority leadership highlighted the political and legal complexities surrounding the appointment of a new Chief Justice.
As the November 10 vetting date approaches, attention will be focused on how Parliament navigates these competing concerns while ensuring adherence to constitutional procedures.
Earlier, the Minority stepped up its opposition to the planned vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, arguing that constitutional questions surrounding him must be resolved first.
The stance follows a petition sent to President John Dramani Mahama by the Minority Caucus, seeking clarity on a pending request for the removal of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie from office.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, speaking during consideration of the Business Committee’s report on Friday, stated the caucus would not back the scheduling of the vetting.
“This House cannot be invited to approve the vetting of the nominee for Chief Justice when there are active constitutional matters before the Supreme Court and the Equal Rights Court of Justice,” he said. “We will not support this Business Committee report that says the nominee will be vetted.”
Afenyo-Markin also criticised delays in several judicial cases, noting that the nominee, who empanels the Supreme Court, is linked to unresolved legal matters.
“The man empowered to empanel the court is the very person who has been nominated,” he noted. “None of the six cases has been listed for hearing. This raises serious concerns.”
The Minority’s renewed push is anchored in a petition dated 7 November 2025 from Second Deputy Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib, requesting that the President provide updates on a petition by Gbandi Nabin Yussif seeking Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s removal under Article 146(1) of the Constitution.
