A heated scene unfolded at the Appointments Committee of Parliament’s sitting as the Minority faction endeavored to obstruct the vetting process of President Akufo-Addo’s two Supreme Court nominees, Justice Sophia Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong. The nominees were scheduled to undergo questioning on August 13 to assess their suitability for the esteemed positions on the Supreme Court bench.
Prior to the commencement of the vetting process, questions arose regarding the constitutional legitimacy of the appointments. Mahama Ayariga, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, voiced concern that the nominations were in contravention of the constitution, casting doubt on the validity of the appointments.
Mahama Ayariga expressed dismay, stating that Parliament has been engaging in unlawful and unconstitutional actions. He asserted that the President has been wielding power without any constitutional or legal basis, and he intends to challenge this by objecting to the nominations on the grounds of unconstitutionality, seeking to have this concern formally recorded.
In a rebuttal, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin countered the concern raised by NDC MP Mahama Ayariga, clarifying that the Appointments Committee’s mandate is strictly limited to examining and vetting the President’s nominees, without delving into the constitutional validity of the appointments themselves.
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the Appointments Committee’s role is limited to vetting and reporting to the plenary for a decision, without making determinations on constitutional matters. He stressed that their mandate is solely to conduct a vetting process, and not to decide on issues related to certification or agency, which would be addressed by a separate committee.
