Akufo-Addo is appointing too many Supreme Court judges – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has expressed displeasure about the number of judges appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo to the Supreme Court.

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said the number of Supreme Court judges has increased from 11 to 14, which will have an impact on the resources of the state, contrary to the president’s claim of protecting the public purse.

He passed these comments on Tuesday, October 18, 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,” he noted.

According to him, “President Mills contributed about 21 per cent, John Dramani Mahama, 28.6 per cent, and Nana Akufo-Addo, 78.6 per cent, from 11 to 14 Supreme Court judges. We wonder if he is mindful of the public purse,” he said.

In July 2022, President Akufo-Addo nominated four justices; three Justices of the Court of Appeal and a Justice of the High Court, to fill up expected vacancies at the Supreme Court.

The nominees from the Court of Appeal are; Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, and Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu.

Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu is the only nominee from the High Court.

Mr. Iddrisu noted that criticisms against the judiciary were part of political accountability, which needed to be embraced by them.

The Appointments Committee of Parliament began the vetting of the four Supreme Court justice nominees on Tuesday.

Their appointments are now subject to subsequent approval or rejection by Parliament.