Parliament
Parliament yesterday approved four persons who were nominated by President Akufo-Addo on July 3, 2018, for the Supreme Court.
The four nominees are Prof. Emmanuel Nii Ashie Kotey, former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana; Nene Abayateye Ofoe Amegatcher, former president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA); Justice Agnes M.A. Dordzie, Appeal Court Judge; and Justice Samuel Kofi Marful-Sau, an Appeal Court Judge.
They were subsequently vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Both sides of the House were unanimous in approving the four nominees, with the Minority MPs in particular, commending the president for the ‘excellent choice and blend of nominees’ whose qualifications and professional competence are in no doubt.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central and ranking member on the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Inusah Fuseini, said he was privileged to have been taught by Prof. Kotey and that his knowledge of the law is amazing, adding that Justice Dordzie, who also has deep understanding of the law, has always been forthright in her decisions.
According to the Tamale Central MP, Justice Marful-Sau and Nene Amegatcher have also distinguished themselves in the legal profession and that their appointment to the Supreme Court would undoubtedly enrich the decisions of the apex court.
“These are very important appointments and I congratulate all of the nominees,” he said.
The legislator also expressed hope that their elevation to the Supreme Court would help consolidate democracy in the country and also deepen the rule of law.
The NDC MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, on his part, said he was particularly excited about the appointments of the four persons to the apex court, adding that the blend of the four legal brains would definitely promote the bench.
He said all the four nominees have deep understanding of the law.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ofoase/Ayirebi and Information Minister-designate, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah also commended the president for nominating them.
He explained that the insightful rulings of Justice Marful-Sau inspired him to read law.
He said when he was a broadcast journalist, he always followed the rulings of Justice Marfo-Sau because he found them to be very analytical and thought-provoking.
The NPP MP for Nandom and Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, also said the competence of the four nominees are in no doubt, adding that he was in the same class with Prof. Kotey at the law school who is very intelligent.
The minister fully endorsed the recommendation of Justice Agnes Dordzie during her vetting that the Appeal Courts ought to be decentralized, stressing that the decentralization of the Appeal Courts would help bring justice to the doorsteps of ordinary Ghanaians, especially those in the three Northern Regions.
He said it would also be good for the Supreme Court to rotate its sittings throughout the country to help bring justice to the doorsteps of ordinary Ghanaians.
The Appointments Committee, in its report after the vetting, said the four nominees were determined to eschew partisanship in the discharge of their duties.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr