- The Minority in Parliament has filed a motion to halt the vetting of Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Ghana’s new Chief Justice
- They seek to ensure that all pending legal cases regarding the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo are resolved before any appointment is confirmed
- The motion, which referencd multiple ongoing legal suits, urged Parliament to suspend the scheduled vetting process
The Minority in Parliament has filed a motion seeking to stop the impending vetting of Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Ghana’s new Chief Justice.
According to a report by Citi News, the Minority, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is taking this action to ensure that all pending legal cases concerning the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice are resolved.
They referenced multiple ongoing cases, including an ECOWAS Court suit (No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25) and other applications before the Supreme Court and High Court, which directly relate to Torkornoo’s removal.
In filing the motion, the Minority cited Articles 110(1), 125–127, 144(1), and 146 of the 1992 Constitution and relevant Standing Orders to support their argument.
They consequently urged Parliament to suspend the Appointments Committee’s scheduled vetting and any plenary debate or approval processes regarding Baffoe-Bonnie’s appointment.
The Minority’s actions follow the scheduling of Baffoe-Bonnie’s appointment for Friday, November 10, 2025, by the Appointments Committee.
This comes after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, referred the nomination of Baffoe-Bonnie for the position of Chief Justice by President John Mahama to the committee.
This is despite a pending suit and injunction application filed by the former Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, who was recently removed from office.
However, the Speaker’s action rests firmly on a recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of Vincent Assafua v. Attorney-General (2025), which held that the performance of constitutional duties cannot be stayed merely because a lawsuit or injunction application has been filed.
Other demands made by the Minority
In the motion, the Minority also demanded that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, appear before Parliament to brief the house on the status of the legal cases related to the former Chief Justice’s removal.
This, according to the motion, should cover the identity and status of the suits, any interim or conservatory orders granted, the reliefs sought, and their implications for the office of the Chief Justice.
They also seek clarification on Ghana’s obligations under regional treaties relevant to the ECOWAS Court proceedings, as well as the government’s assessment of the potential legal and constitutional consequences of proceeding with the appointment while the cases remain pending.
Minority warns Baffoe-Bonnie
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Leader Afenyo-Markin had warned that Chief Justice nominee Paul Baffoe-Bonnie will face tough scrutiny in Parliament.
He raised concerns over constitutional issues surrounding Baffoe-Bonnie’s nomination and current role as acting Chief Justice.
This came amid a court challenge by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who was recently removed from office.