Speaker of Parliament, Alban K.S. Bagbin has called for a law to check the number of Justices to the Supreme Court.
The Speaker’s call comes on the back of President Akufo-Addo’s recent nomination of Justice Sophia Rosseta Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong for consideration as Justices of the Supreme Court to replace two other retiring Judges, Justice Nii Ashie Kotey and Justice Mariama Owusu.
Meanwhile, the 1992 constitution provides for nine (9) judges to the Supreme Court but does not prescribe an upper limit thereby allowing the Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornu, on the advice of the Judicial Council and in further consultation with the Council of State to submit nominees to the President for additional judges.
However, the Speaker suggests that, it’s about time a sealing is placed on the number of Judges appointed to the Supreme Court.
“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.
This call from the Speaker of Parliament is no different from several calls made by former President and the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama accusing President Akufo-Addo of packing the Supreme Court.
Mr. Mahama argued that, President Akufo-Addo keeps filling the Court with party judges which according to him undermines the country’s democracy.
In a response, Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornu debunked the former President’s accusations stating that, the Supreme Court handles a minimum of 15 cases daily, translating to 45 cases weekly and approximately 180 cases monthly putting pressure on the number of judges available.
She further explained that, per the number of cases handled, there is the need for at least 20 judges to expedite cases and improve efficiency.
