Minority boycotts the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.

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The appointment of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice has been boycotted by the Minority in Parliament.

This came after opposition parliamentarians had concerns about his nomination and the procedures that resulted in Gertrude Torkornoo’s dismissal as Chief Justice.

During the screening process, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated, “We vote to reject the nominee, the majority can proceed with he quest, we do not intend to proceed with any question. We are, however, registering in the strongest terms that we reject the nomination, and the records should reflect that the report of this committee be a majority report.” 

While the Chief Justice nomination was being vetted, the Majority and Minority leaders, Alexander Afenyo Markin and Mahama Ayariga, engaged in furious bickering.

According to Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, his side of the house is entitled to refer to Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the contested Chief Justice nominee.

“We gather to vet the disputed nominee for the office of Chief Justice. This is a case of whether Ghana’s judiciary will remain independent,” he stated,

“It is the Minority’s view to describe Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as the disputed Chief Justice,” he continued.

However, Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, took issue with his use of a contested nominee quote.

Ayariga stated, “I am objecting to the term dispute because there is no dispute regarding the nominee before us.” 

He stressed, “There is no dispute about his nomination. You have no right to look into my face and refer tp him as a disputed nominee.”

Bernard Ahiafor, the committee’s chair, requested that the Minority Leader stop using such terms.

‘Minority Leader, the speaker has dealt with this matter; refrain from the use of this description.”

Today, Monday, November 10, the nominee made an appearance before the committee.

Source: newsthemegh.com