Audio By Carbonatix
Supreme Court Justice Nominee Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu has disagreed with claims that President Akuffo-Addo is saturating the Apex Court with Justices.
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu during the vetting process of the nominated Judges accused President Akufo-Addo of packing the Supreme Court after naming four new Judges to the highest court of the land.
“If you take the fourth republican period from President Rawlings to President J.A Kuffuor to Atta-Mills we have seen significant numbers of appointments to the Supreme Court by the President in the exercise of his constitutional powers under Article 144.
“But note that President Mills contributed about 21.4%, John Dramani Mahama, 28.6%, and Nana Akufo-Addo, 78.6% from 11, to 14 Supreme Court judges. We wonder if he is mindful of the public purse," Haruna Iddrisu said.
She contended that Supreme Court Judges are only nominated to be appointed when there are vacancies or when some Judges retire.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, October 18, she explained that the President is only exercising his duties by virtue of Article 144.
“With all due respect, I think that's a misconception. It is not a fact that we're going to be 18 members of the Supreme Court. As a matter of practice, generally speaking, nomination to the Supreme Court is when there are vacancies and when some of the justices are going on retirement. I don’t agree that the Supreme Court is being packed," Justice Ackah-Yensu said at her vetting.
The newly nominated justices are Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, Justice of the Court of Appeal and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court.
The four Judges nominated to the Supreme Court are being vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament after Speaker Bagbin announced their nominations in the House in July 2022.
Latest Stories
-
Big Push probe: Presidential staffer challenges Fourth Estate’s report on Valerie Sawyerr committee
36 minutes -
Since Gold Coast, national security has never faced an open trial – Atta Akyea
36 minutes -
This is no case for junior lawyers – Atta Akyea explains why he must defend Adu-Boahene
55 minutes -
Lebanon parliament votes to abolish death penalty
56 minutes -
Ghana, Burkina Faso sign defence pact to secure cross-border trade corridors
1 hour -
The rise of AI in the classroom: Balancing technological innovation with critical thinking
1 hour -
Five arrested over alleged MoMo robbery syndicate in Upper West
1 hour -
UEW journalism students call for practical media studio
2 hours -
Why these 2 cases? – Atta Akyea questions Chief Justice’s expedited trial order
2 hours -
Beyond certification: How Bawaa the artist is helping young creatives turn talent into opportunity
2 hours -
The Law 101: Vacation warrants and the role of the CJ (Part IV)
2 hours -
The Law 101: GBA states pure law and convention about Legal Vacation (Part III)
2 hours -
Pray – THE LAW 101: The Vacation Roster dilemma and the reality of Court Recess (Part II)
2 hours -
Trump hid in catering truck in secret plane swap over Iran threat, reports say
2 hours -
Inside the Secret Service ‘shell game’ to hide US presidents in plain sight
2 hours