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By Adoa News, November 11, 2025
The vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, descended into heated partisan exchanges on Monday, culminating in a walkout by Minority members of Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
Led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority announced their decision to boycott the process, arguing that the nomination is illegitimate due to ongoing legal challenges surrounding the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
“We are registering that we reject the nomination, and the record should reflect that the report of the vetting be a Majority report,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin declared before exiting the chamber.
According to the Minority, several cases pending before the Supreme Court, High Court, and the ECOWAS Court make it improper for Parliament to proceed with the vetting. They contend that continuing the process undermines judicial independence and prejudges issues that are still under judicial consideration
The walkout followed a tense exchange between Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin during the session.
Mr. Ayariga objected to Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s attempt to make opening remarks, arguing that Parliament had already debated issues surrounding the nomination and that further commentary was unnecessary.
Tensions escalated when Mr. Afenyo-Markin referred to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as a “disputed Chief Justice nominee,” a label Mr. Ayariga swiftly rejected. The Majority Leader demanded an apology and retraction, insisting the comment was inappropriate for a vetting session and reminding the committee that it was “not a courtroom.”
In response, Mr. Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority Leader of attempting to muzzle dissenting voices and diminish the Minority’s constitutional role in the approval process. He reiterated the Minority’s stance that Justice Torkornoo’s removal was conducted under “opaque” circumstances, prompting further protests from the Majority side
The exchanges highlighted deepening political rifts over the Chief Justice appointment, with both sides trading accusations of bad faith and constitutional violations.
Despite the boycott, the Majority proceeded with the vetting session, but the Minority maintains that the process is flawed, unconstitutional, and politically tainted.
Their walkout sets the stage for a potential parliamentary showdown when the Appointments Committee’s report is presented to the full House for consideration in the coming days.
