The Minority in Parliament has expressed worry about President Akufo-Addo’s continuous nomination of judges to the Supreme Court Bench. According to the Caucus, President Akufo-Addo’s appointment of judges to the apex court is unprecedented in the Fourth Republic.
They insist the increase from 11 to 14 justices has the tendency to drain the resources of the state. Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, made this known on Tuesday during the vetting of newly appointed judges to the Supreme Court. “If you take the fourth republican period, we have seen a significant number of appointments by the President in the exercise of his powers in Article 144.”
“But note that President Mills contributed about 21.4%, John Dramani Mahama, 28.6%, and Nana Akufo-Addo, 78.6% from 11 to 14 Supreme Court judges. We wonder if he is mindful of the public purse.”
The Temale South legislator also said criticisms against the Judiciary form part of political accountability. He thus urged the citizenry to embrace same. “It is part of political accountability for us to demand that things are done, and done right,” he added.
The newly nominated justices are; Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice of the Court of Appeal; Mr Justice George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal; Mr Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, Justice of the Court of Appeal; and Mr Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court.