Minority opposes swift appointment of new Chief Justice amid pending court cases 

The Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns over what it described as “unnecessary haste in the process to appoint a new Chief Justice, following the exit of Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo.” 

Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, Member of Parliament for Gushegu, who spoke on behalf of the Caucus, argued that the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the next Chief Justice should be suspended until all pending legal challenges surrounding Justice Torkornoo’s removal were resolved. 

The Caucus has filed a motion through the Clerk to Parliament for the Speaker of Parliament to suspend the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie as new Chief Justice of Ghana, scheduled for November 10, 2025. 

The Caucus said the former Chief Justice Torkornoo had six pending cases in high court and Supreme Court and three cases before the ECOWAS Court. 

The Minority insisted that those cases must be exhausted to uphold constitutional integrity and protect the rule of law. 

The Caucus emphasised that rushing the appointment of a new Chief Justice undermined democratic accountability and judicial independence. 

It urged Parliament to allow due process to take its full course before proceeding with any new nomination. 

This is a bold move aimed at safeguarding democratic principles and the rule of law. 

The Caucus argued that the current pace of proceedings reflected an unnecessary haste and undermined the integrity of the judicial transition. 

The Minority’s motion, submitted to the Clerk of Parliament, cited multiple constitutional provisions—Articles 110(1), 125 to 127, 144(1), and 146 of the 1992 Constitution—as well as relevant Standing Orders of Parliament.  

Their central argument was that all pending legal challenges related to the removal of former Chief Justice Torkornoo must be resolved before any vetting or approval of a new nominee could proceed. 

Among the unresolved cases were: 

– A suit before the ECOWAS Court (Case No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25); Multiple applications before Ghana’s Supreme Court; and Proceedings in the High Court challenging the legality of Justice Torkornoo’s removal. 

They argued that due process must be respected, especially when the judiciary—an institution central to democratic governance—was involved. 

“The vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie must be suspended until the courts have spoken on the legality and constitutionality of the removal of Justice Torkornoo,” the motion stated. 

“This is not just a procedural matter; it is a test of our commitment to the rule of law and democratic accountability.” 

The motion has stirred debate within Parliament, with some members supporting the Minority’s stance as a necessary check on the executive overreach, while others view it as a political maneuver.  

Regardless of the outcome, the motion underscores the importance of transparency and judicial independence in Ghana’s democratic process. 

Source: GNA 

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