Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has referred President John Mahama’s seven Supreme Court judge nominees to the Appointments Committee for vetting and subsequent approval.

This is in accordance with Article 144(2) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which mandates that Supreme Court nominees undergo parliamentary scrutiny before their appointments are confirmed.

The nominees - Justices Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Senyo Dzamefe, Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, Philip Bright Mensah, and Janapare Bartels-Kodwo—were nominated by the president in April in a letter signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, and addressed to the acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.

Following Parliament’s return from recess yesterday, May 27, the Speaker read a letter from the President requesting the approval of his seven nominees to the Supreme Court. He urged Parliament to expedite the process to enable the Justices to assume office as soon as practicable.

According to the Judicial Service, the Judicial Council will consider the nominations “in preparation towards the successive processes.”

The president’s nomination has been lauded by political risk analyst and economist Dr. Acheampong, who noted that the nominees bring with them a wealth of experience, having risen through the ranks of the judiciary, including the Court of Appeal.

Minority’s reaction to Mahama’s appointment of new Justices

Following President Mahama’s nomination, the Minority in a press conference launched an attack on the president, accusing him of scheming to secure a third term in office through strategic judicial appointments.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday, May 1, Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin claimed the appointments were not routine but part of a larger, calculated political manoeuvre.

“This is not a routine judicial appointment. What we are witnessing is a strategic and deliberate effort to pack the Supreme Court with loyalists.”

However, Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, blatantly refuted the Minority Leader’s claims, noting that he is the one who is putting the idea in the minds of Ghanaians.

About the nomineesJustice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei – A Court of Appeal judge since 2010, he was elected to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2022 for a six-year term. He has served as Director of the Judicial Training Institute and Dean of the Faculty of Law at GIMPA. He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at multiple universities.

Justice Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh – Appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2010, he previously served as the Supervising High Court Judge in the Eastern Region and is known for his expertise in constitutional and administrative law and represents Court of Appeal judges on Ghana’s Judicial Council.

Justice Senyo Dzamefe – A Court of Appeal judge since 2010, he chaired the Dzamefe Commission, which investigated Ghana’s performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was elected President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) in 2018.

Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackah-Boafo - A Court of Appeal judge, has emphasised the need for legal education reforms and has advocated for the integration of artificial intelligence into Ghana’s legal system to enhance efficiency and transparency.

Justice Philip Bright Mensah – Known for his contributions to appellate jurisprudence, he recently presided over a Court of Appeal panel that directed the Accra High Court to adopt proceedings from a previous trial in the Republic vs. Stephen Kwabena Opuni case.

Justice Janpere Bartels-Kodwo – A Court of Appeal judge, he has been nominated to strengthen the Supreme Court’s capacity amid increasing demands on Ghana’s judiciary.

Justice Hafisata Ameleboba – A Court of Appeal judge, she has been involved in key judicial decisions and reforms. Her nomination is expected to bring diversity and expertise to the Supreme Court.