Tensions erupted during the vetting of two judges by the Appointments Committee in Accra on Tuesday, as NDC and NPP MPs clashed over the proceedings.
The judges in question, Justice Sophia Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, were set to answer questions about their qualifications for the Supreme Court.
Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga challenged President Akufo-Addo’s authority to appoint more than nine justices to the Supreme Court, in addition to the Chief Justice.
He argued that the Constitution specifies the number of Supreme Court justices as nine, plus the Chief Justice, and suggested that appointing more was a violation of the Constitution.
In response, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued that the Appointments Committee’s role is to vet the President’s nominees, not to question the President’s powers.
Following a heated debate, committee chairperson Patricia Appiagyei temporarily suspended the proceedings to determine whether to continue the vetting.
After a break, the committee voted on whether to proceed, resulting in a tie. According to parliamentary rules, a tie means the motion fails, so Appiagyei ruled against Ayariga’s motion.
The vetting of the two nominees then resumed.
