A heated exchange erupted in Parliament today when the Appointments Committee began vetting Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie. The confrontation stemmed from a disagreement over the use of the phrase “disputed nominee” by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, which sparked objections from the Majority side.
The tension began when Mr. Afenyo-Markin, in his opening remarks, referred to the acting Chief Justice as a “disputed nominee.” His choice of words drew a sharp response from the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, who cited Standing Orders 122 and 123 of Parliament to challenge the comment.
According to Mr. Ayariga, the Standing Orders prevent members from introducing new matters that have already been ruled on by the Speaker—particularly regarding a motion previously filed by the Minority to halt the vetting. He also reminded the Committee that the conduct of the Speaker, the Chief Justice, and other high-ranking judicial officers cannot be discussed in Parliament except through a formal motion.
“He has no lawful authority to revisit what has already been decided in court or on the floor of the House,” Mr. Ayariga argued.
The Minority Leader, however, accused his counterpart of acting in bad faith and attempting to use the Majority’s numerical strength to suppress opposing views. He clarified that his remarks were not meant to breach procedure but to highlight a political concern regarding the process surrounding the nominee’s approval.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also criticized the work of the Justice Pwamang Committee, calling it a travesty of justice and insisting that the Minority had every right to express its stance.
Following the heated exchanges, Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor temporarily adjourned the proceedings to deliberate and deliver a ruling on the matter.
