Parliament has sanctioned the nominations of three individuals for the role of Justices of the Supreme Court, notwithstanding a boycott of the vetting process by the Minority Caucus.
The nominees include Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr, who is a former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
This approval came after the Appointments Committee’s report was adopted, which recommended all three nominees for positions on the highest court.
The Minority, under the leadership of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, boycotted the vetting, contending that the process was expedited and did not adhere to established parliamentary protocols.
Afenyo-Markin clarified that the Minority’s objection was not aimed at the nominees’ qualifications but rather at the manner and timeline in which their nominations were being evaluated.
He pointed out that there was no vacancy on the Supreme Court necessitating an urgent appointment and questioned the rationale behind the abbreviated period for public examination of the nominees.
However, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, dismissed the Minority’s concerns and instructed that the vetting should proceed.
Consequently, the Minority exited the committee proceedings, allowing the Majority to continue with the vetting and evaluation of the nominees.
Despite the boycott, the committee endorsed the three nominees for approval, facilitating their consideration by the full House.
Justice Bernasko-Essah serves as a Justice of the Court of Appeal and possesses significant judicial experience. She was previously nominated for a Supreme Court position in 2024, but the process was not finalized before the change in administration.
Justice Amoako Asante, also a Justice of the Court of Appeal, has previously held the position of President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice before returning to Ghana’s Court of Appeal.
Anthony Forson Jnr, a private legal practitioner and past President of the Ghana Bar Association, possesses a wealth of experience in private legal practice.
The approval paves the way for the three nominees to finalize the constitutional procedure for their appointment to Ghana’s Supreme Court.
