Audio By Carbonatix
The Minority in Parliament is strongly pushing for a capping of the number of Supreme Court Judges at 13.
Article 128 of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that the highest court shall consist of the Chief Justice and not less than 9 other Justices.
President Akufo-Addo since his assumption of office in 2017 has nominated 15 judges to the Apex court, the highest in the nation's history.
Speaking during the consideration of the Appointments Committee report on the nomination of Justices Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu and Samuel Kwame Adibu, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu warned that if the appointment to the Supreme Court is not capped, a president may take advantage and pack it with his loyalists.
“We have seen significant numbers appointed under President Akufo-Addo to the Supreme Court of Ghana in the name of anticipated vacancies. Ghana does not need more than 13 Justices of the Supreme Court.
“This Parliament somehow must find a way to limit the numbers of Justices of the Supreme Court that the President can appoint…Mr. Speaker, where there is no ceiling provided, I want to believe that the framers of the Constitution assumed that Parliament will provide for those limitations, we cannot have an open end,” he said on the floor, Friday.
MP for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Boamah however said that if Parliament wants to do something of that sort, it should go ahead because the House has the power to take such an action.
"This house we cry too much over nothing, because we have the power to take certain actions if we want to cap or expand or limit the number of justices who can serve on the courts. Examples have been cited in other jurisdictions…Here as a House if we want to take steps we have the power to do that.”
Meanwhile, the House has approved the nomination of two justices appointed by the President to the Supreme Court.
Justices Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu and Samuel Kwame Adibu will add up to the current number of 12 Justices of the Supreme Court.
Latest Stories
-
GOLDBOD CEO explains ‘Clear Typo’ in Foreign Reserves claim
1 hour -
Trump says US military struck ISIS terrorists in Nigeria
2 hours -
Civil society group calls on the Bank of Ghana to suspend planned normalisation of non-interest banking
4 hours -
Jingle bills: Arkansas Powerball player strikes $1.8bn jackpot on Christmas Eve
4 hours -
Brazil ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s surgery for hernia ‘successful’
4 hours -
Ghana and Afreximbank announce successful resolution of $750 million facility
7 hours -
IGP inaugurates Ghana Police Music Academy
7 hours -
Proposed 5-year presidential term will be difficult for underperforming presidents to seek more – Prof Prempeh
7 hours -
Constitution review was inclusive, structured and effective – Prof Prempeh
7 hours -
Public urged to remain vigilant to ensure fire incident-free Christmas
7 hours -
Why the fight against neglected tropical diseases is far from over
7 hours -
Reported losses from gold operations in 2025 remain speculative – BoG
8 hours -
Fighting AIDS and STIs in Africa: UNFPA equips youth to turn data into action
8 hours -
Amaarae returns to Accra for homecoming concert
8 hours -
5-year term will be harsher on presidents, not kinder, says Constitution Review Chair
8 hours
