The Appointments Committee of Parliament will today, Monday, November 10, 2025, vet Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for the position of Chief Justice following his nomination by President John Dramani Mahama.
The vetting, which is expected to begin at 11:00 a.m., was confirmed in an official notice issued by David Sebastian Damoah, Director of Media Relations at Parliament.
The exercise will allow Members of Parliament to assess Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s qualifications, judicial philosophy, and vision for Ghana’s justice system before recommending his approval or otherwise to the House.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s nomination comes after the dismissal of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who had served as Chief Justice since 2023. His appointment marks a significant moment for Ghana’s judiciary, as Parliament prepares to evaluate a potential new head of the country’s judicial arm at a time of heightened public interest in judicial independence.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Friday, November 7, dismissed a motion filed by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, which sought to suspend the vetting process until pending court cases involving the former Chief Justice were resolved.
Afenyo-Markin had argued that proceeding with the vetting could interfere with ongoing judicial matters and breach constitutional procedure. He urged the House to defer the process “to avoid creating a potential conflict between the judiciary and the legislature.”
However, Speaker Bagbin ruled that there was no constitutional or procedural justification to halt Parliament’s work due to a pending court case.
“Such a move would set a dangerous precedent,” he cautioned, emphasising that Parliament must continue to exercise its constitutional mandate independently.
The vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is expected to draw close attention from both sides of the House and the public, given the sensitivity surrounding recent developments within the judiciary and the significance of the Chief Justice role in upholding the rule of law.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
