Chairman of Appointments Committee Dismisses ‘Worthless’ Petition against SC Nominee
Parliament’s Appointments Committee has dismissed a petition challenging the nomination of Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo to the Supreme Court, describing the allegations as “frivolous, facetious, worthless, and without merit.”
The petition, filed by one Anthony Kwabena Rau, alleged that the nominee used insulting language in a 2019 High Court judgment. The petitioner claimed that Justice Ackaah-Boafo quoted a letter presented as evidence that contained derogatory remarks about Ghanaians. However, a thorough review by the Committee found no grounds for the allegations.
Addressing the Committee during the vetting on Friday, June 20, Chairman Hon. Bernard Ahiafor clarified that the matter had already been adjudicated by the Court of Appeal, which, in June 2023, ruled that there was no professional misconduct on the part of the judge.
“The claim that the judge insulted or attacked the petitioner is completely unfounded,” Hon. Ahiafor stated. “The Court of Appeal reviewed the same issue and found no wrongdoing.”
The Committee had temporarily suspended proceedings on Thursday to scrutinize the petition. After its internal review concluded the claims were baseless, the vetting of Justice Ackaah-Boafo resumed on Friday.
Hon. Ahiafor stressed that the Appointments Committee’s role does not include reviewing decisions already addressed by the judiciary or substituting the mandate of the Judicial Council.
He also addressed additional documents submitted by the petitioner, which contained allegations of corruption against Charles Idan, Deputy Director of Finance at the Judicial Service. These claims, he said, had no relevance to the Supreme Court nominee and had already been investigated by the Chief Justice, who found no wrongdoing.
“These supplementary documents are entirely unrelated to Justice Ackaah-Boafo and therefore hold no bearing on the vetting process,” Hon. Ahiafor emphasized.
He further cited Article 127(3) of the 1992 Constitution, which shields judges from liability for acts performed in the legitimate exercise of their judicial functions.
Minority Leader and Ranking Member on the Committee, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, echoed the Chairman’s remarks, raising concern about a growing trend of using unsubstantiated petitions to malign members of the judiciary.
He warned that such conduct undermines judicial independence and democratic stability.
“We are seeing unfortunate developments, including the suspension of the Chief Justice based on weak and unfounded allegations,” Afenyo-Markin said. “As with the current matter, these attacks on judicial figures must be discouraged.”
He commended the Appointments Committee for “rising above pettiness and trivialities” in handling the petition.
Chairman Ahiafor, while affirming the Committee’s commitment to the rule of law, urged restraint in commenting on ongoing matters, particularly the case involving the suspended Chief Justice.
“We are addressing issues based on facts and applying the law accordingly. I urge the Minority Leader not to preempt any outcomes,” he cautioned.
With the petition resolved, the Committee proceeded to vet Justice Ackaah-Boafo, moving the nomination process forward.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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