The Minority in Parliament has cautioned Acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to adequately prepare for a rigorous vetting process as Parliament’
The Minority in Parliament has cautioned Acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to adequately prepare for a rigorous vetting process as Parliament’s Appointments Committee readies to scrutinize his nomination to the position of Chief Justice.
This development follows the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s referral of President John Dramani Mahama’s nomination of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to the committee on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 — a move that has reignited the ongoing debate surrounding the legality and transparency of recent judicial appointments.
Background to the Nomination
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s elevation comes in the wake of the controversial dismissal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, a decision that has sharply divided public opinion and triggered accusations of executive overreach.
Chief Justice Torkornoo’s removal, which President Mahama justified on grounds of alleged administrative misconduct, has been condemned by the Minority and sections of the legal fraternity as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
They argue that due process was sidestepped, citing the secrecy surrounding the so-called “Pwamang Committee Report,” which reportedly recommended her removal but has yet to be made public.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who serves as a senior justice of the Supreme Court, was immediately appointed as Acting Chief Justice following Torkornoo’s ouster.
His swift assumption of office before parliamentary approval has since raised eyebrows within legal and political circles.
Minority Raises Red Flags
Taking the floor during Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed deep concern over what he described as “serious constitutional lapses” surrounding Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s appointment and assumption of office.
“The one who has been nominated for the Chief Justice position must come prepared to earn the approval of the House,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
“If you come unprepared — you do not have your judgments, and there are questions about your involvement in your boss’s ‘sacking’ or concerns about how you have conducted yourself — you are required to answer. So, you have to prepare,” he cautioned.
Afenyo-Markin’s remarks, though measured, appeared to signal that the vetting process would not be business as usual.
Members of the Minority, he said, would demand full disclosure of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s role in the events leading to Chief Justice Torkornoo’s removal and scrutinize his judicial record for independence, consistency, and fairness.
Legal and Political Implications
The vetting is expected to test not only Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s legal credentials but also the integrity of the judicial appointment process, which has been under scrutiny since the Mahama administration’s decision to suspend Chief Justice Torkornoo in September.
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