President Akufo-Addo has nominated two new judges to the Supreme Court bench, pending approval by Parliament. The nominees are Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, a legal academic and fellow of the Ghana Academy of Sciences, and Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, a justice of the Court of Appeal.
According to the President, both nominees are to be vetted by Parliament as constitutionally mandated. Prof Frimpong Oppong, when approved, will join Prof Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu as one of the legal academics on the bench of Ghana’s apex court. Justice Bernasko Essah will bring considerable experience to the Supreme Court with her extensive background as a State Attorney, private legal practitioner, and as a Justice of the High Court and Court of Appeal.
The latest nomination comes weeks after Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo wrote to President Akufo-Addo, requesting the nomination of five judges to the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice cited the need for more judges to handle the overwhelming number of cases currently before the court.
However, the Chief Justice’s recommendations, which included Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, Justice Cyra Pamela Koranteng, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Justice Eric Kyei Baffuour, and Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah, were widely condemned by various groups and individuals. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) called for the resignation of the Chief Justice.
The latest nomination by the President did not include the names suggested by the Chief Justice, leaving many to wonder if the nominations have been rejected or are still pending approval and consideration. When the two new nominees are approved by Parliament, the current number of justices at the Supreme Court will increase to 17.
