The Minority in Parliament has called for the deferment of the vetting of three nominees to the Supreme Court, questioning the urgency behind the process.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin argues that Parliament should not be pressured into vetting the nominees within a few days when, in his view, there is no immediate vacancy on the Supreme Court requiring urgent replacement.
He made the position known ahead of Parliament’s vetting on Thursday, August 11, 2026, insisting that the House needs adequate time to conduct a thorough assessment of the nominees.
“If there is no vacancy to fill, there is certainly no emergency compelling anyone to fill it inside three days. There is no fire here.”
The three nominees are Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, also of the Court of Appeal and a former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; and Anthony Forson Jr, a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, the nominees are being considered as additional justices rather than to immediately fill existing vacancies on the Supreme Court.
He therefore proposed that the appropriate parliamentary committee could undertake the vetting in September and submit its report for consideration when Parliament resumes in October.
Minority rejects judicial vacation as reason for urgency
The Minority Leader also dismissed suggestions that the ongoing judicial vacation should create pressure for Parliament to expedite the process.
He argued that the Supreme Court remains operational and continues to hear cases requiring urgent attention despite the vacation period.
For the Minority, the absence of an immediate vacancy means Parliament can take the necessary time to scrutinise the nominees without compromising the constitutional role of the legislature.
Minority supports vetting of two ministerial nominees
While opposing what it considers an unnecessary rush over the Supreme Court nominations, the Minority says it is prepared to support the prompt vetting of two ministerial nominees.
They are Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga, nominated as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Korle Klottey MP Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, nominated as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
Afenyo-Markin stressed that the Minority’s position is not intended to obstruct the government’s appointments but to ensure that Parliament has sufficient time to properly scrutinise nominees.
The dispute over the timing of the Supreme Court vetting is therefore likely to centre on whether the nominations require immediate parliamentary action or can wait until Parliament’s next sitting period.
For the Minority, the process should prioritise thorough parliamentary scrutiny rather than speed, particularly where no immediate vacancy has been identified as requiring urgent attention
