Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli
The Minority in Parliament has questioned the government’s urgency in proceeding with the vetting to appoint a new Chief Justice while legal proceedings over the removal of Justice Gertrude Torkonoo remain unresolved.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday, Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana, said the Minority’s concern is rooted in constitutional propriety and respect for judicial processes, not politics.
He questioned the rationale behind moving to fill the office of the Chief Justice while the legality of Justice Torkonoo’s removal is still before the courts.
“If you haven’t completed the process of reviewing the propriety and legality of her removal, how do you fill the office?” he asked.
He added, “It is very possible that the court may rule that the procedures leading to her removal were flawed, meaning she would have to be reinstated. So, what happens then?”
Mr. Tampuli stated that the country currently has an Acting Chief Justice, ensuring there is no vacuum or paralysis within the judiciary’s operations.
“Since Justice Torkonoo’s suspension in April 2025, the judiciary has continued to function. So we are saying, what is the haste? Whose wishes are we in a hurry to fulfill when there are pending cases before the same judiciary?” he questioned.
The Minority has since filed a motion urging the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to suspend the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, who has been nominated as the new Chief Justice.
They argue that proceeding with the vetting process while the matter is before the courts could breach due process and prejudice ongoing legal proceedings, potentially undermining public confidence in the judiciary and Parliament’s constitutional oversight role.
The Minority insists that the appropriate course of action is to allow the court process to conclude before any permanent appointment is made, in order to safeguard the integrity of both the judiciary and Parliament.
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