Lamtiig Apanga, the Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Gaming Commission of Ghana, has said President John Dramani Mahama’s recent Supreme Court nominations are to replace retiring judges.
According to Lamtiig Apanga, Mahama is not attempting to “pack” the Supreme Court with his recent nominations.
He disclosed that nominations should be viewed as part of the normal succession process within the judiciary rather than a political attempt to influence the Supreme Court.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, July 18, Apanga stated, “There are justices who are due for retirement anytime soon. These names have been put forward as part of the replacement process. These are nominations, not appointments. They still have to go through the required constitutional processes before any appointments can be made”.
“It is to ensure continuity, replacement and to manage the numbers. I don’t think there has been any attempt to pack the court,” he stated.
“We know, for instance, that the Chief Justice will be due for retirement in no time, sometime in December. There are others who are also due for retirement, and some of these nominations are coming in to replace those who may go on retirement,” he added.
His comment follows President John Dramani Mahama’s nomination of three new persons for appointment to Ghana’s apex court, the Supreme Court.
According to reports, the nominees are Court of Appeal Justices Sophia Bernasko-Essah and Amoako Asante, as well as legal practitioner and former Ghana Bar Association President, Tony Forson.
Justice Amoako Asante previously served as President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice before returning to the Ghana bench.
President Mahama’s nominations were made in consultation with the Judicial Council, in accordance with constitutional requirements.
If approved, the appointments will increase the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 18 to 21, which will expand the structure of Ghana’s apex court.
The nominees will now undergo parliamentary vetting and approval processes before being sworn in as Justices of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has boldly stated that the Presidential term clause in Ghana’s constitution is clear with no ambiguity in the provision.
According to John Mahama, the Supreme Court case on Presidential term is not his business.
Mahama disclosed that he believes the constitutional provision governing presidential tenure is clear, following a legal action seeking the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the two-term limit for presidents.
Speaking during the Reset Tour and citizens’ engagement in the Volta Region on Friday, July 17, President Mahama stated, “I know that people have gone to the Supreme Court seeking interpretation of the clause that governs the tenure of the president. If you ask my personal opinion, I thought that it was clear enough. I’ve read it over several times; it’s exactly what it says, but if they want to ask the Supreme Court, that is their business”.
“The people of Ghana gave me a mandate for one term. And I am working hard to meet the promises I made them,” he said.
@ghnow_ Traders in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital, have taken to the streets to protest the withdrawal of the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) Special Operations Team from the region #GHNow #fyp ♬ son original – Power of Passion Genies2Babi
@ghnow_ Justice beyond the courtroom. The Judicial Service is taking legal education directly to communities as part of activities marking the Supreme Court’s 150th Anniversary. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
