The Minority in Parliament has filed a motion calling for the immediate suspension of all parliamentary proceedings concerning the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice, pending the resolution of ongoing legal challenges to the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
Citing Articles 110(1), 125–127, 144(1), and 146 of the 1992 Constitution as well as relevant Standing Orders of Parliament, the Minority urged that the Appointments Committee’s vetting process, along with any subsequent plenary debate or approval, be put on hold until the legal and constitutional issues surrounding Justice Torkornoo’s removal are fully determined.
The motion makes specific reference to multiple pending suits, including one before the ECOWAS Court of Justice (Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25), as well as cases currently before the Supreme Court and the High Court of Ghana. According to the Minority, these matters have a direct bearing on the legitimacy of the ongoing nomination process.
The Minority further demanded that Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, appear before Parliament to brief the House on the status of all litigation related to the matter. The briefing, the motion indicated, should cover:
- The identity and current status of each suit,
- Any interim or conservatory orders granted by the courts,
- The specific reliefs sought by the parties, and
- The constitutional implications of proceeding with a new Chief Justice while the cases remain unresolved.
Additionally, the Minority seeks clarification on Ghana’s obligations under regional treaties, particularly in relation to the ECOWAS Court proceedings, and the government’s legal risk assessment regarding possible breaches of constitutional and international commitments.
The motion follows the announcement of the vetting date for Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who was nominated by President John Dramani Mahama following the controversial removal of Chief Justice Torkornoo—a move that has triggered intense public and institutional debate over judicial independence and constitutional due process.
