The vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie descended into heated partisan exchanges on Monday, culminating in a full walkout by the Minority members of the Appointments Committee.
The Minority, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, announced their decision to boycott the process, insisting that the nomination itself is illegitimate because of unresolved legal challenges relating to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
“We are registering that we reject the nomination, and the record should reflect that the report of the vetting be a Majority report,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin declared before exiting the chamber.
According to the Minority, multiple cases currently before the Supreme Court, High Court, and ECOWAS Court make it improper for Parliament to proceed with the consideration of a new Chief Justice. They argue that continuing the process undermines judicial independence and prejudges matters that are still under adjudication.
But the walkout was preceded by a tense confrontation between the two leaders in Parliament.
Clash Between Majority and Minority Leaders
The disagreement erupted when Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga objected to Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s attempt to make opening remarks during the vetting session. Mr. Ayariga maintained that issues concerning the nomination had already been debated in Parliament, and further commentary was unnecessary.
The tension escalated when Mr. Afenyo-Markin described Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as a “disputed Chief Justice nominee,” a characterisation Mr. Ayariga rejected outright. The Majority Leader insisted the remark was inappropriate for a vetting session and demanded an apology and retraction, saying the committee was “not a courtroom.”
In response, Mr. Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority Leader of trying to muzzle dissenting views and diminish the Minority’s role in the constitutional process. He reiterated concerns that Justice Torkornoo’s removal was shrouded in “opaque” circumstances — a comment that again drew objections from Mr. Ayariga.
Deepening Divisions
The exchanges underscored deepening partisan rifts over the appointment of a new Chief Justice, with both sides trading accusations of bad faith and constitutional impropriety.
The Majority proceeded with the vetting despite the boycott, but the Minority has made it clear that they regard the process as flawed, unconstitutional, and politically tainted.
Their walkout sets the stage for a possible showdown when the Appointments Committee submits its report to the full House.
