The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has staged a walkout during the vetting of the Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie, citing what they described as unfairness in the processes leading to the removal of former Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
The Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim Central, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi who addressed the media on behalf of the Minority Caucus after the walk out, indicated that until the processes at the courts concerning the removal of the former Chief Justice are exhausted, the Minority could not be part of the vetting process that would usher in a new Chief Justice.
The incident occurred on Monday, November 10, 2025, during the preliminary stages of the vetting exercise by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Tensions flared when the Majority and Minority Leaders clashed over procedural issues raised in the opening remarks of the Minority Leader, Osahene Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin. He sought to register the displeasure of the Minority against the vetting of the nominee despite pending cases at the Supreme Court of Ghana and the ECOWAS Court bordering on the processes that led to the removal of the former Chief Justice.
The Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, repeatedly interrupted his counterpart’s submission, insisting that portions of the Minority Leader’s address breached the Standing Orders of Parliament. He cited Orders 122 and 123, among others, arguing that the Minority Leader’s comments ventured into matters outside the jurisdiction of Parliament and were therefore inadmissible.
The Majority Leader also argued that the Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Bagbin had already delivered a ruling on the concerns being raised by the Minority Leader. Concerns which he contended, was largely a rehash of a proposed motion that was rejected by the Speaker last Friday, November 7, 2025.
Hon. Ayariga subsequently called on the Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Bernard Ahiafor, to rule the Minority Leader out of order.
In response, the Minority Leader maintained that his side was exercising its democratic right to express dissent, emphasizing the parliamentary principle that “the Minority will have its say, but the Majority will have its way.”
He accused the Majority side of intolerance and urged them to respect their right to disagree with what they described as a flawed process that led to the exit of Justice Torkonoo and the nomination of Justice Baffoe Bonnie.
Following the heated exchanges, the Minority NPP members staged a walkout, leaving the Majority Caucus to continue with the vetting proceedings.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
