- Speaker Bagbin proposes capping Supreme Court Justices.
- Move comes after President nominates two new judges.
- Bagbin suggests setting a clear upper limit.
- Aims to ensure Supreme Court's effectiveness.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has proposed a law to cap the number of Justices on the Supreme Court, citing the need for a clear limit. Ghana’s constitution currently allows for nine judges on the Supreme Court, but does not specify an upper limit, leading to concerns about the potential for an unlimited number of justices.
Bagbin’s suggestion comes after President Akufo-Addo nominated two new judges, Justice Sophia Rosseta Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, to replace retiring judges, bringing the total number of justices to 13. The Speaker believes it’s time to establish a ceiling on the number of judges appointed to the Supreme Court, to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
Bagbin urged the House to consider legislation to set an upper limit on the number of justices, suggesting it could be 13, 15, 20, 40, or 100, and emphasizing that it’s up to the House to decide. He noted that the current situation, where there is no clear limit, could lead to an excessive number of justices, which could impact the court’s ability to function effectively.
The Speaker’s proposal follows President Akufo-Addo’s nomination of the two new justices, which aims to replace retiring Justice Nii Ashie Kotey and upcoming retiree Justice Mariama Owusu. Upon receiving the President’s message, Speaker Bagbin referred the nominations to the Appointment’s Committee for review and feedback, as per parliamentary procedure.
The move has sparked debate on the ideal number of justices for Ghana’s Supreme Court, with some arguing that a larger bench could lead to more efficient justice delivery, while others believe a smaller bench could lead to more focused decision-making.
Bagbin’s proposal seeks to establish a clear limit, to ensure that the Supreme Court can function effectively and efficiently, while also ensuring that the number of justices is appropriate for a country of 33 million people.
