Bagbin proposes cap on Supreme Court Justices amid new nominations

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin is advocating for a law to cap the number of Justices to the Supreme Court.

Ghana’s constitution provides for nine judges to the Supreme Court but does not prescribe an upper limit.

The Speaker’s advocacy comes after President Akufo-Addo nominated two new Judges to the Supreme Court to replace two other retiring Judges.

But Speaker Bagbin says it’s about time a sealing is placed on the number of Judges appointed to the Supreme Court.

“And so, we’re being called through this letter as a House to look into the issue of a full complement of the Supreme Court, should it be 13, 15, 20, 40, or 100. It’s for this House to decide.

“I’m urging you to look at this issue, given the provision reforms or to pass legislation and to give an Upper limit as to how many can be at the Supreme Court of a country of 33 million people,” Alban Bagbin said.

The Speaker’s advice to the House follows President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s nomination of Justice Sophia Rosseta Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong for consideration as Justices of the Supreme Court.

This action is in response to the retirement of Justice Nii Ashie Kotey and the upcoming retirement of Justice Mariama Owusu.

Upon receiving the President’s message, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin in Accra on Monday, passed on the nominations to the Appointment’s Committee for review and feedback