The Minority Caucus in Parliament has raised strong objections to the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees nominated by President John Dramani Mahama, arguing that the process does not comply with the constitutional requirements.

The objection follows Parliament’s recall by the Speaker, Alban Kingsford Bagbin, for an emergency sitting to consider a number of government business, including the vetting of ministerial nominees and the three nominees to the Supreme Court.

Addressing the media, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued that the short notice given for the nominees’ vetting violates the constitutional requirement for adequate public notice.

According to him, the Constitution requires nominees to be advertised for a specified period to allow members of the public to scrutinise their backgrounds and submit relevant information before the vetting process begins.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin further pointed to the position taken by the current Majority when they were in opposition in 2024.

He recalled that the then Minority, led by Cassiel Ato Forson and Kwame Agbodza, objected to the vetting of judicial nominees under the previous Akufo-Addo administration on similar procedural grounds.

He therefore questioned what had changed to warrant the current Majority departing from the same principle they defended while in opposition.

“We are not against the President’s nominations, but we cannot allow the process to stand when due process is not being followed,” he said.

The Minority Leader maintained that their objection was not directed at the President’s constitutional authority to nominate judges, but rather the manner in which the vetting process was being conducted.

He stressed that Parliament must respect the Constitution and ensure that all established procedures are followed before nominees are subjected to vetting.

The Minority Caucus has consequently announced that it will resist any attempt to proceed with the vetting of the three Supreme Court nominees without adherence to the required constitutional procedures.

“We will resist any attempt to proceed with this vetting process until the proper constitutional procedures are followed,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated.