MINORITY WALKS OUT OF CHIEF JUSTICE VETTING OVER ‘IRREGULAR PROCESS’
The opposition NDC MPs staged a principled protest, arguing that the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is premature and legally problematic while the current Chief Justice is still in office and related cases are pending in court.
Tensions flared in Parliament on Monday when the Minority caucus staged a walkout during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, labeling the process as “irregular” and a violation of constitutional principles.
Addressing the press after the walkout, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim Central, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, explained that the decision was rooted in a fundamental concern over due process. He argued that it was improper to vet a new Chief Justice while the current one, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has not yet formally retired.
“On a matter of principle, we needed to lay the foundation because there was an existing Chief Justice. But for the irregularities, we would not be here to vet another Chief Justice,” Anyimadu-Antwi stated.
The MP further revealed that the Minority had previously filed a motion in Parliament seeking to delay the vetting. He emphasized that several legal challenges concerning the nomination are still pending before the courts and the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, and these should be conclusively determined before the process moves forward.
Stressing that the protest was not personal, Anyimadu-Antwi said, “Nobody has anything against Justice Baffoe-Bonnie personally, but on a matter of principle, we needed to abstain from this. Since we were going to vote against the process anyway, we decided not to participate.”
He also expressed frustration with the Majority side, claiming they were unwilling to engage in a fair debate. “It seemed they had made up their minds to object to everything we said. We cannot hold everyone to ransom, so we thought it was best to give peace a chance and leave the room,” he added.
Despite the Minority’s absence, the Appointments Committee proceeded with the vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie. If approved by Parliament, he is set to succeed Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo upon her expected retirement.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
