Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has dismissed a request by the Minority to suspend the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
Delivering his ruling on Friday, the Speaker said there was no constitutional or procedural justification for halting the vetting process because of ongoing court proceedings.
“There is no constitutional or standing order basis for Parliament to halt the process simply because there are pending cases in court. If I were to accept that argument, it would mean that any litigant could hold Parliament hostage by filing a case and freezing the work of Parliament and its committees,” Speaker Bagbin explained.
Following his ruling, the Speaker declared the Minority’s motion inadmissible and returned it to its sponsor, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The Minority had earlier requested that the vetting, scheduled for Monday, November 10, be postponed until the resolution of legal actions filed by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Addressing the House, Afenyo Markin insisted that his side would not support any Business Committee report that includes provisions for the vetting.
“We will not support a report that contains any provision for vetting. The Majority Leader should withdraw that part so the rest of the committee’s report can stand,” he stated.
He added that the Minority’s stance was rooted in respect for due process and the rule of law.
“Mr Speaker, our Minority should not be taken for granted. Justice Gertrude Torkornoo is a Ghanaian who has submitted herself to due process. Her rights must be respected. We are not dealing with emotions; we are dealing with law. That vetting will not happen until the proper legal processes are followed,” he emphasized.
