Ghana’s Parliament has confirmed the elevation of seven Appeal Court judges to the Supreme Court, a decision reached after adopting the 15th report of the Appointments Committee on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
The approved Justices are: Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Senyo Dzamefe, Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, Philip Bright Mensah, Janapare Bartels-Kodwo, and Hafisata Amaleboba. Their approval now expands the bench of the Supreme Court to 20.
The Appointments Committee’s report, presented by Chairman Bernard Ahiafor, revealed a partisan divide. All members from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) voted against the nominees, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) majority endorsed their approval.
“The members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the majority however, voted in favour of all the nominees. The Committee, therefore recommends to the House by majority decision the adoption of this report and the approval of all seven Justices,” Ahiafor stated.
Despite opposition from the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who urged the Speaker to delay proceedings to allow for more scrutiny, the Speaker proceeded under the House’s Standing Orders and greenlit the motion.
“Mr. Speaker, don’t be inclined into granting the request by the Majority Leader for the report to be considered. We need to thoroughly read the report,” Afenyo-Markin argued. His concerns, however, did not prevail.
Justifying the nominations, Ahiafor praised the competence and judicial temperament of the candidates.
“Upon careful deliberations, the Committee knows that all the nominees demonstrated outstanding competence, deep knowledge of the law and a firm ground of the Judicial ethics,” he said.
“They addressed questions posed by the Committee with professionalism, clarity and intellectual rigour, reflecting their capacity to uphold the integrity, independence and dignity of the highest court of the land,” he added.
The vetting process took place between June 16 and June 20, 2025, though not without friction, particularly surrounding an effort to halt the vetting of Justice Ackaah-Boafo.
The nominations stem from President Mahama’s April 29 proposal, formally communicated via a letter signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, in accordance with Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
