Akufo-Addo nominates 3 new Supreme Court Justices

0

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has nominated three Court of Appeal Justices to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court bench.

They include Justice Henry Anthony Cofie, Justice Yaw Asare Darko and Justice Richard Agyei Frimpong.

The appointment according to the President follows the mandatory retirement of three Justices of the apex court earlier this year.

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu who chaired proceedings in the house referred the appointment of the 3 Justices to the Appointments Commitment for consideration and report.

Reading the communication from the President 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.”

The last time new appointments were made to the Supreme Court bench was in July 2022.

At the time, the list comprised three justices of the Court of Appeal and a Justice of the High 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.

Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama accused Nana Akufo-Addo of packing the Courts with NPP loyalists and encouraged NDC lawyers to make themselves ready to join the bench.

Addressing this year’s Bar conference, President Akufo-Addo also condemned the comments, describing it as “dangerous for Ghana’s democracy”.

However, in a sharp rebuttal, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu maintained that “former President Mahama was justified in his comments”.

He cited a number of former NPP Communicators and Executives who have been appointed Judges to buttress his point.

According to Felix, President Akufo-Addo is deliberately staffing state institutions so he can have his way when out of power.

Mr Mahama while speaking at the NDC Lawyers Conference in Akosombo over the weekend, accused President Akufo-Addo of appointing members of his party to the bench to influence decisions in their favour.