The Minority in Parliament has filed a motion to draw the Speaker’s attention to the obligation of the legislative arm of government to abide by court proceedings regarding the Chief Justice role.
According to the six New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament, who signed the motion, the House must be briefed on the status of all litigations regarding the removal of Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo before proceeding to vet the President’s nominee.
On Tuesday, October 28, the Appointments Committee decided on Monday, November 10 as date to vet Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
But the six MPs are urging the suspension forthwith of all activities surrounding the nomination of Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice “until all pending suits and applications directly bearing on the removal of Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo (including ECOWAS Court Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25 on provisional measures, multiple Supreme Court proceedings and High Court applications) are finally determined or withdrawn”.
They are demanding of the Business Committee to reprogramme the Business of the House accordingly and the Appointments Committee standing down any scheduled vetting of the nominee.
They also want the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, summoned “to provide a comprehensive briefing on the status of all pending litigation relating to the removal of Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo”.
The applicants of the motion are Asante Akim Central MP Anyimadu Antwi, Suame MP John Darko, Trobu MP Gloria Owusu, Afigya Kwabre South MP Damata Salam Ama Appianima, Gushegu MP Alhassan Tampuli and Ejisu MP Kwabena Boateng.