By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for a secret ballot during the vote to approve Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Ghana’s next Chief Justice.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, November 13, Afenyo-Markin argued that some Majority MPs are also dissatisfied with the nomination and would prefer to express their views confidentially.
“We are going to demand a secret ballot to vote on this nomination. We know there are members on their side who have their own views and want to express them when there is a secret ballot,” he said.
The Minority Leader further expressed concern over the government’s failure to publish the prima facie case that led to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, describing it as a violation of transparency.
“As we speak, the prima facie case against Torkornoo hasn’t been published. That is of great concern to us. The recommendation that gave rise to the president’s actions is not public, and that makes it difficult for us in the Minority to support this nomination,” he added.
Supporting this stance, the MP for Asante Akim Central, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, questioned the government’s decision to proceed with the approval while several court cases including one before the ECOWAS Court are still challenging the removal of the former Chief Justice.
“There are seven separate proceedings in different courts, including the ECOWAS Court. Ghana must respect these institutions. What happens if these rulings go against the government after Baffoe-Bonnie’s approval?” he asked.
Meanwhile, the Chair of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, told Parliament that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie displayed exceptional legal expertise and understanding during his vetting.
“The nominee demonstrated outstanding competence, deep knowledge of the law, and a firm grasp of judicial ethics,” he noted.
Appearing before the committee on Monday, November 10, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized his readiness to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
“The Judiciary of Ghana stands at a defining moment. This process is not merely a constitutional requirement it is a national reckoning,” he stated, pledging to build a judiciary that “does not merely interpret the law but elevates the nation’s conscience.”
He outlined three key pillars for judicial transformation procedural clarity, efficiency and accountability, and open justice aimed at enhancing transparency, technology use, and public access to judicial processes.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie assured Parliament that, if confirmed, he would lead a judiciary that serves as both “a shield for the weak and a restraint upon the powerful.”
Court of Appeal Judge Yaw Oppong, who was present during the vetting, expressed confidence in Baffoe-Bonnie’s competence, describing him as “a veteran in the judicial system who knows what is expected of him.”
