Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Saviour Kudze says it is not wrong for President Akufo-Addo to replace retired Supreme Court Judges.
According to him, the Head of State was acting within the tenets of the constitution when he nominated three Justices to fill vacant offices.
Speaking on Top Story on JoyFM, he said, “I don’t think that there is any issue about this thing in the sense that the constitution gives us a minimum number of Justices that must be appointed, it does not give us a sealing but practically, what has been happening is that we have been hovering around 15,16.”
His comments were in response to South Dayi MP, Rockson Dafeamkpo's assertion that it was unconstitutional for the President to nominate new Judges since by law, the Apex Court required a minimum of nine Justices.
Clarifying the Legislators concern, Mr Kudze said “Over the years, what has always been done is that when people retire or unfortunately die, new appointments are made to replace them so if at this time you are saying that once we have a minimum of nine, there would be no need for an appointment, I will not agree with that."
On the back of this, he explained that many cases were referred to the Supreme Court, and those appointed as judges are elderly, therefore, the President appointing three more judges to replace the Justices that have retired was nothing wrong because he will not break the practice of hovering around the 15-16 judges.
Read also: Akufo-Addo is taking advantage of constitution to pad Supreme Court – Dafeamekpor
He stressed that if the President was doing more than the usual 15 that would be of major concern, however, since that was not the case he did not think "anybody was doing anything unlawful.”
Again, the PRO said it was high time Ghana placed an upper limit on the number of Judges to be appointed to the Supreme Court to avoid future abuses.
President Akufo-Addo nominated three new persons to go on to the Supreme Court following the retirement of some judges recently.
The appointed Justices Henry Kwofi, Yaw Asare Darko and Adjei Frimpong are all currently Justices of the Court of Appeal.
If confirmed, President Akufo-Addo alone would have appointed 18 Supreme Court judges, the biggest number by any president in Ghana's history.
Read also: Akufo-Addo nominates 3 new justices to Supreme Court
Latest Stories
-
Man remanded for allegedly stabbing businessman with broken bottle and screwdriver
23 mins -
Population in Kumasi Central Prison surges to 1800, threefold exceeding capacity
33 mins -
NPP to conduct La Dadekotopon parliamentary primary today
33 mins -
KPMG’s report on GRA and SML deal, government white paper on report and matters arising
33 mins -
I won’t reply to Chris Brown tour criticism – Ayra Star
36 mins -
British Columbia to back off drug decriminalisation project
44 mins -
Veteran commentator Joe Lartey Sr dies at 96
45 mins -
Livestream: Newsfile discusses KPMG report on SML deal, ILO on SSNIT reserves and NDC’s running mate
1 hour -
Ghanaian activist hugs over 1,100 trees in an hour to set Guinness World Records
1 hour -
Mathew Anim Cudjoe’s Dundee United promoted to Scottish Premiership after Championship win
1 hour -
NSMQ star Jochebed Adwoa Sutherland sweeps 12 awards at UG Vice-Chancellor’s Ceremony
2 hours -
Ghana’s Education Quality ranked 125 out of 183 countries in latest Global Youth Development Index
3 hours -
Emma Stone wants people to use her real first name
3 hours -
Verna Purified Water emerges as ultimate winner at Ghana Beverage Awards 2023
3 hours -
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Sundowns, Esperance join Al Ahly and Wydad as CAF representatives
6 hours