By: Ama Gyamfuah
President Akufo-Addo has put forward two new judges for the Supreme Court bench, following their approval by the Judicial Council.
The nominees are Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, a legal scholar and fellow of the Ghana Academy of Sciences, and Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, a justice of the Court of Appeal.
President Akufo-Addo stated that both nominees will undergo parliamentary vetting as mandated by the constitution.
If approved, Prof. Frimpong Oppong will join Prof. Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu as one of the legal academics on the bench of Ghana’s Supreme Court.
Justice Bernasko Essah, who has an extensive background as a State Attorney, private legal practitioner, and as a Justice of the High Court and Court of Appeal, will bring considerable experience to the Supreme Court upon her appointment.
This latest nomination follows a request from Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, who wrote to President Akufo-Addo several weeks ago, asking him to nominate five judges to the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice indicated that the Supreme Court requires more judges to manage the overwhelming number of cases currently pending.
Among those recommended is Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, who is currently overseeing the Ato Forson ambulance procurement trial.
The other four recommended judges are Justice Cyra Pamela Koranteng, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Justice Eric Kyei Baffuour, and Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah.
However, the Chief Justice’s procedure has faced widespread condemnation from various groups and individuals. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly criticized the action, with some calling for the Chief Justice’s resignation.
The President’s latest nominations did not include the names suggested by the Chief Justice, raising questions about whether these nominations have been rejected or are still pending.
If approved by Parliament, the two new nominees will increase the total number of justices on the Supreme Court to 17.