Parliament will tomorrow, December 20, 2023, hold a public hearing to assess the nominees chosen by the President to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court bench.
The President proposed three existing Court of Appeal justices for elevation to the Supreme Court in a letter to the House.
Henry Anthony Kwofie, Yaw Darko Asare, and Richard Adjei-Frimpong are the justices.
The Committee chaired by Parliament’s First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, is expected to conduct the hearing and present a report to the plenary for consideration.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in November this year nominated the three Court of Appeal Justices to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court bench.
The appointment according to the President follows the mandatory retirement of three Justices of the apex court earlier this year.
In his letter to the House, he said “Over the course of the last few months, in February, May, and June, respectively, three vacancies have been created on the Supreme Court bench. By convention, and having regard to its excessive jurisdiction, the Supreme Court bench comprises the Chief Justice and 15 other justices. These vacancies have occurred as a result of the mandatory retirement of Justice Nene Abayeteye Ofoe Amegatcher on February 3, 2023, former Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah on May 24, 2023, and Justice Jones Dotse on June 8, 2023. There are now 13 justices of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.”
In July 2022, the President nominated four three justices of the Court of Appeal and a Justice of the High Court to the Supreme Court.
The nominees from the Court of Appeal were Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, and Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu.
Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu was the only nominee from the High Court.
The four were subsequently vetted and approved by Parliament.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
