The Minority in Parliament has filed a motion calling for the immediate suspension of all parliamentary processes relating to the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie as Chief Justice until all court cases challenging the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo are conclusively determined.
In the motion submitted on Tuesday, the caucus cited Articles 110(1), 125–127, 144(1), and 146 of the 1992 Constitution, along with relevant Standing Orders of Parliament. The Minority argued that proceeding with the vetting and approval of Justice Baffoe Bonnie while the legality of Justice Torkornoo’s removal is under judicial review would undermine constitutional due process and the independence of the judiciary.
They referenced several pending legal actions including one before the ECOWAS Court (Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25) and others before Ghana’s Supreme Court and High Court which directly question the legitimacy of Justice Torkornoo’s removal from office.
The Minority is therefore urging Parliament to halt the work of the Appointments Committee and defer any subsequent plenary debate or approval until final judicial decisions have been delivered.
Additionally, the motion requests that the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, appear before Parliament to brief members on the current status of all related court proceedings. The briefing, they say, should cover the nature of the suits, any interim or conservatory orders, the reliefs being sought, and the potential constitutional and institutional implications.
The caucus is also seeking clarification on Ghana’s obligations under international and regional conventions particularly those establishing the ECOWAS Court and on the government’s legal justification for proceeding with a new nomination while litigation remains pending.
This development follows President John Dramani Mahama’s formal nomination of Justice Baffoe Bonnie to succeed Justice Torkornoo, whose removal has generated widespread debate among constitutional experts, legal practitioners, and political analysts.
