A member of Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, and MP for Kwesimintsim, Hon. Philip Fiifi Buckman, has dismissed the Minority’s motion to suspend the vetting of Supreme Court Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice, describing it as “dead on arrival.”
The Kwesimintsim MP said the Minority’s request to delay the vetting until all legal challenges regarding the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo are resolved, lacks any legal foundation.
According to him, there is no evidence of constitutional breach in the process that led to Justice Torkornoo’s removal and the subsequent nomination of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie for the office. He accused the Minority of engaging in what he termed “political gymnastics” aimed at obstructing the smooth functioning of Ghana’s judiciary.
Hon. Philip Fiifi Buckman argued that Ghana cannot afford to keep its judicial leadership in limbo over legal disputes that could take years to conclude, especially when the said the Constitution provides a clear mandate for the President to act once the removal process of a Chief Justice has been properly initiated and completed.
“So when would those cases in respect of Her Ladyship Torkornoo end? When is it going to end? At least I have the benefit of being a lawyer and I know that if a lawyer says that a particular case is not going to end soon, all technicalities will be adopted to make sure it doesn’t end soon. So I’m surprised with their motion”
“They have their rights to say whatever they want, but I think that Ghana needs a substantive Chief Justice who would direct the judicial system, and it is time we carry it out boldly and vet Justice Baffoe-Bonnie and proceed with it”
Hon. Philip Fiifi Buckman, Member of Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, and MP for Kwesimintsim
Hon. Buckman insisted that Ghana’s judicial system must continue to function effectively, stressing that the office of Chief Justice is not the personal entitlement of any individual but a constitutional institution serving the nation. “The seat is for Ghana, and Ghana must move on – Our judicial system must progress,” he declared.
He also dismissed allegations that President John Dramani Mahama acted improperly in accepting the committee’s recommendation on Justice Torkornoo’s removal, insisting that the President’s decision was guided strictly by the constitutional process and not by personal or political discretion.
“As a matter of fact, I have always maintained that I don’t know which procedural impropriety would be laid at the doorstep of the President. The Constitution gave him the mandate to carry out this, and he did exactly that.
“In fact, if the President had rejected the report or the recommendation of the (Pwamang) committee, he would have subjected himself to the Constitution for impeachment”
Hon. Philip Fiifi Buckman, Member of Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, and MP for Kwesimintsim
Minority’s Motion and Legal Concerns
The Minority in Parliament had earlier filed a motion asking the Speaker to halt the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, scheduled for November 10, 2025.
The motion, submitted to the Clerk to Parliament, cited several constitutional provisions and Standing Orders to support its case, arguing that the ongoing litigation surrounding the removal of Justice Torkornoo makes it premature to proceed with the appointment of a new Chief Justice.
In the motion, the Minority stated that proceeding with the vetting would “undermine the integrity of Parliament’s constitutional role” in approving the head of the judiciary. It specifically referenced suits before the ECOWAS Court, the Supreme Court, and the High Court, warning that any appointment made while these cases are pending could have “serious constitutional implications.”
The motion further requested Parliament’s Business Committee to reprogram its schedule and direct the Appointments Committee to suspend all related vetting activities, while also calling for the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to brief the House on the status of the cases concerning Justice Torkornoo’s removal.
The Minority emphasised that its position was not an attempt to delay national governance but a constitutional safeguard to ensure judicial integrity and prevent potential conflicts arising from overlapping judicial and executive actions.
However, the Kwesimintsim legislator, Hon. Philip Fiifi Buckman, warned that failing to proceed with the vetting could cripple the judiciary’s leadership and delay vital reforms. He called on Parliament to “boldly and swiftly” conduct the vetting to ensure continuity in judicial administration.
“We won’t stop or mark time because somebody thinks that she has not been dealt with rightly,” he said.
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s vetting is scheduled for November 10, 2025, before the Appointments Committee of Parliament. If approved, he will succeed Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as Ghana’s next Chief Justice.
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