The vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, President John Mahama’s nominee for Chief Justice, was marred by controversy today after the Minority Caucus in Parliament formally rejected the nomination and withdrew from the vetting process.
The boycott was announced by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin following a prolonged exchange with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, which resulted in a temporary suspension of proceedings for nearly half an hour.
Upon resumption, Mr. Afenyo-Markin led the Minority members in a walkout, leaving only the Majority representatives on the Appointments Committee to continue the vetting. “Be it known to you, chairman, and the committee and the country that we, the Minority Caucus, hereby vote en bloc to reject the nominee,” he declared. “We do not intend to proceed with any question. We are, however, registering in the strongest terms that we reject the nomination, and the records should reflect that the report of this committee be a majority report.”
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who currently serves as Acting Chief Justice, was nominated to replace former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, whose removal is the subject of ongoing legal challenges. The Minority’s decision to abstain stems from concerns over the transparency of the nomination process and unresolved issues surrounding Justice Torkonoo’s dismissal.
With the Minority absent, the vetting proceeded without the usual bipartisan scrutiny, raising concerns about the credibility and inclusiveness of the confirmation process.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is a seasoned jurist, having served on the Supreme Court before assuming the role of Acting Chief Justice. Just a day prior, he was honored at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, where he urged journalists to uphold truth, courage, and accountability in their work.
His nomination is widely seen as a natural progression given his judicial experience and seniority. However, the confirmation of a Chief Justice requires a two-thirds majority of Parliament members present and voting, meaning the government will depend heavily on its numerical strength to secure approval.
The Minority’s withdrawal from the vetting underscores the deep political divisions surrounding high-level appointments and casts a shadow over the judiciary’s perceived impartiality. While such boycotts are not new in Ghana’s political landscape, their occurrence in the selection of the head of the judiciary highlights the heightened stakes and sensitivities involved.
Attention now shifts to the Appointments Committee’s final report and the ensuing debate in Parliament, which will determine whether Justice Baffoe-Bonnie secures the mandate to lead Ghana’s judiciary.
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