Parliament on Monday approved a contentious vetting report for Supreme Court nominees, greenlighting President John Mahama’s latest judicial appointments despite a unified protest from the Minority caucus.

The confirmation followed a tense floor debate that underscored widening political rifts. Opposition lawmakers, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, criticized the process as constitutionally flawed and politically expedient. Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority of sidelining established norms to push through the appointments, warning that the move “sets a dangerous precedent” for future judicial vetting.

But the Majority, which holds a numerical edge in Parliament, dismissed those concerns. Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga defended the process, maintaining that all seven nominees were subjected to rigorous scrutiny and deemed qualified to serve on the nation’s highest court.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin weighed in to affirm that the Appointments Committee’s report met all procedural requirements, rejecting claims that Minority views were disregarded. “Parliamentary procedure does not prevent you from expressing your views on the floor,” Mr. Bagbin said. “The report reflects the collective decision of the committee.”

The session concluded with a voice vote, in which the Speaker ruled that the Majority had prevailed. “The ayes have it,” Bagbin declared, formally confirming the nominees.

The vote capped days of partisan friction, during which the Minority had moved to delay the report’s presentation. Committee Chair Bernard Ahiafor acknowledged that while input from Minority members was included, some last-minute demands could not be met ahead of the scheduled vote.

The newly confirmed justices are expected to assume their posts on the bench in the coming days.

Source:TheDotNews