Dr Joshua Zaato, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, has accused President John Mahama of betraying his principle with power.
According to Dr Zaato, John Mahama and the NDC have abandoned their earlier position on judicial appointments.
He argued that the NDC’s criticism of former President Akufo-Addo over his appointments to the Supreme Court appeared inconsistent with the approach being taken by the current Mahama administration.
Dr Zaato detailed that Akufo-Addo appointed about 20 Supreme Court judges during his eight-year tenure, an average of roughly three appointments annually, citing the NDC, then in opposition, who criticised those appointments as an attempt to influence the composition of the apex court.
According to Dr Zaato, the current administration’s appointments should therefore attract the same scrutiny from the NDC.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday, August 29, Dr Zaato stated, “If Akufo-Addo was packing the court because of his appointees, then what are you doing?”
“Power has made him betray that principle,” he said, referring to President Mahama.
Dr Zaato’s comments followed Parliament’s approval of three nominees for appointment to the Supreme Court.
Parliament has approved the nominations of three individuals to the Supreme Court after all were recommended by the Appointments Committee and subsequently endorsed by the House, despite a dramatic boycott of the vetting process by the Minority Caucus.
The nominees include Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr, a former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
Earlier, the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, during the vetting of Supreme Court nominees, once again clashed with First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor and Majority Chief Whip Rockson‑Nelson Dafeamekpor.
The heated confrontation flared between the Minority and Majority members of the Appointments Committee over the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees.
According to Alexander Afenyo‑Markin, both sides of the house had earlier agreed the nominees would be vetted in October, and questioned why that agreement had suddenly been changed.
The Minority leader, while addressing the Committee, was repeatedly interjected by Rockson‑Nelson Dafeamekpor.
Afenyo-Markin cautioned Dafeamekpor against allowing politics to “ruin him.”
He stated, “You are my mate. I was called before you. You are my study mate. And you know, my law is unsoiled. So, stop what you are doing. Etse, don’t let politics make you behave this way. I’ve raised an issue, and he cannot rule on it. It’s a motion. He should tell me where he can rule. We have to take a decision and vote”.
“He should tell me where he can rule. We have to take a decision and vote. Please. It’s not fair. We have a right of reply. Let us reply. He shouldn’t rush. Why are we doing this to ourselves? It’s not fair. Your own position in 2024. Ayariga, you were there. You said 14 days,” he said.
He continued: “Why three days? Why? And when we react, you start shouting and threatening us. And you started threatening us. What’s going on in this country? In today’s Ghana, you can’t talk.”
“They will threaten you, frustrate you. That’s what you are doing. That is what you are doing. Maintain your own principle. You act out of political convenience. Where is your principle? Ayariga is here,” Afenyo-Markin insisted.
@ghnow_ The Ablekuma North MCE, Hon. Adamu Musah Kalamu has outlined the key features of the newly commissioned Astroturf at Dansoman, highlighting the facilities and amenities provided to support sports development in the constituency. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Hon. Afenyo Markin clash with Hon. Ahiafor on the vetting of Supreme Court Judges #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
