Approval Clears Final Path for Appointments
Parliament has approved the nominations of Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court.
The approval followed the adoption of the report of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, which recommended all three nominees after a highly contentious vetting process that resulted in the Minority Caucus walking out in protest.
The development clears the way for the three nominees to complete the constitutional process towards their appointment to Ghana’s apex court.
President John Dramani Mahama nominated the three candidates in consultation with the Judicial Council before their nominations were referred to Parliament for consideration.
Minority Protests Vetting Process
The approval came amid strong objections from the Minority Caucus, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, over the decision to fast-track the vetting of the nominees.
Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that there was no need to accelerate the process because there was no vacancy on the Supreme Court bench that required an urgent replacement.
He stressed that the Minority’s objection was not directed at the nominees personally, nor was it a challenge to the President’s constitutional authority to nominate persons for appointment to the Supreme Court.
Rather, he said, the concerns centred on the procedure and timetable adopted by the Appointments Committee.
The Minority Leader subsequently led his members out of the committee after its chairman, Bernard Ahiafor, rejected the objection and ruled that the vetting should proceed.
Mr Ahiafor described the grounds of the Minority’s objection as “flimsy”, “hollow” and “baseless”, allowing the Majority side of the committee to continue with the vetting exercise.
Three Experienced Legal Minds
The three nominees bring extensive experience from the Judiciary and private legal practice, with backgrounds spanning appellate adjudication, regional judicial service and legal practice.
Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah
Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah is a Justice of the Court of Appeal with considerable experience on the bench.
Her nomination to the Supreme Court is particularly notable because she was previously nominated for the position in 2024 but did not complete the appointment process before the change of administration.
Her latest nomination therefore revives an earlier attempt to elevate her to the country’s highest court.
Justice Edward Amoako Asante
Justice Edward Amoako Asante, also a Justice of the Court of Appeal, has extensive judicial experience both in Ghana and at the regional level.
He previously served as President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, where he played a key role in the administration of regional justice.
He subsequently returned to Ghana to continue his judicial career at the Court of Appeal.
Anthony Forson Jnr.
Anthony Forson Jnr, a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association, completes the trio.
He brings extensive experience from private legal practice and his leadership of Ghana’s legal profession.
His nomination also provides a private-practice perspective to the proposed composition of the Supreme Court.
Next Step in Constitutional Process
With Parliament’s approval secured, the three nominees can now proceed to the remaining stages required under the Constitution for their appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court.
Their approval marks the latest development in the President’s efforts to shape the composition of the country’s apex court, despite the disagreements that surrounded the parliamentary vetting process.
The three nominees are expected to bring their combined judicial, regional and private-practice experience to the Supreme Court once the constitutional appointment process is completed.
