Parliament on Monday approved President John Agyekum Kufuor’s nomination of Justice Dixon Kwame Afreh, as a judge of the Supreme Court of Ghana. Members voted 104 with two abstentions to approve his nomination while the NDC minority abstained.
The Appointment Committee screened Mr Justice Afreh earlier during which the Minority refused to participate. Mr Freddy W. Blay, Chairman of the committee, in a report told Parliament that members of the committee were impressed with the nominee’s intellectual and legal status.
He said Mr Justice Afreh’ s reputation and integrity as a jurist and a law-abiding citizen of the country could never be put in doubt.
Mr Kwame Osei Prempeh, NPP-Nsuta-Kwamang, said Mr Justice Afreh distinguished himself at the public hearing of the Appointment Committee and wondered why he was kept all this while from the Supreme Court. He proved that he was legally, culturally, “and in fact very good in every aspect of life.
“He has suffered so much injustice. If anybody says his appointment is ill timed, the person would be underrating him. He is more than qualified for the Supreme Court.”
Mr Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Deputy Minority Leader, said the Minority was not against the person of Mr Justice Afreh, because they all knew his capabilities as a jurist. “We are against the timing and circumstances in which he is being appointed. He is being appointed to swell the number at the Supreme Court for the review. Posterity would judge whether we did this on the principle of the appointment or the person involved.”
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker, asked the member to be circumspect in his pronouncement since what he saying was filled with derogatory connotations. He said the member’s statement conveyed the impression that the Judge was a person, who would lend himself to be used.
Mr Adjei-Mensah said it was obvious that he would support the Fast Track Court idea since he had been sitting on the court for some time.
Papa Owusu Ankoma, Majority Leader, said there was nothing unconstitutional about the nomination of Mr Justice Afreh. The people of Ghana gave their mandate to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to make decision on their behalf so those outside could not dictate to the government. He said the government would under no circumstance try to dictate to the Courts. “President Kufuor himself believes in the independence of the Judiciary.”
Source: GhanaWeb
