Speaker Bagbin calls for legislation to cap Ghana’s Supreme Court Justices

Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, has highlighted the need to have a legislation to cap the upper limit of the number of justices at the Supreme Court.

Although the constitution provides for nine judges to Ghana’s apex court, it, however, does not put a limit to it. Conventionally, the number has remained 15 for some years now, until recent calls by the Chief Justice to increase the number to 20.

This has generated controversy for some weeks now when the Chief Justice nominated five persons to be considered by the President for the Supreme Court, with many saying the number will be too much, compared to other developed democracies such as the UK and US where Supreme Court justices are capped.

The Speaker’s comments come on the back of two additional justices nominated to the court by President Akufo-Addo, following two retiring judges.

According to the Speaker, Parliament needs to decide on the number with recourse to the population.

“And so, we’re being called through this letter as a House to look into the issue of a full complement of the Supreme Court, should it be 13, 15, 20, 40, or 100. It’s for this House to decide.

“I’m urging you to look at this issue, given the provision reforms or to pass legislation and to give an Upper limit as to how many can be at the Supreme Court of a country of 33 million people,” Alban Bagbin said.

President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has nominated Justice Sophia Rosseta Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong for consideration as Justices of the Supreme Court.

This action is in response to the retirement of Justice Nii Ashie Kotey and the upcoming retirement of Justice Mariama Owusu.

Upon receiving the President’s message, Speaker Bagbin in Accra Monday, July 22, 2024, passed on the nominations to the Appointment’s Committee for review and feedback.

Source:onuaonline.com