The Minority in Parliament has urged a pause in the approval of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice, citing ongoing judicial proceedings related to the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

The group argues that moving forward now would contravene the sub judice rule, threaten judicial independence, and risk creating parallel claims to the office.

They note seven active cases across the ECOWAS Court, the Supreme Court, and the High Court contesting the lawfulness of the removal.

Highlighting a potential conflict of interest, the Minority points to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s prior role in dismissing injunctions connected to the removal.

They are calling on Parliament to defer action to safeguard constitutional principles, uphold parliamentary precedents, and respect the separation of powers while the judiciary concludes its determinations.

Below is the full argument made by the minority legislators.