The vetting of Supreme Court nominee Justice Hafisata Amaleboba before Parliament’s Appointments Committee turned tense after a sharp exchange between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Committee Chair Bernard Ahiafor.
Tensions rose when Afenyo-Markin asked the nominee about her voting station in the last election a question Ahiafor promptly ruled out of order, citing committee rules. The ruling visibly frustrated Afenyo-Markin, who responded, “Lord, grant me patience!”
The incident underscored an ongoing rift between Afenyo-Markin and Ahiafor, dating back to previous disagreements during the vetting of ministerial nominees tensions which have at times disrupted the committee’s proceedings.
During her vetting, Justice Amaleboba addressed several key issues affecting the judiciary:
- Asset Declaration Enforcement: She said the President has the authority to sanction appointees who fail to comply with asset declaration laws, emphasizing that doing so does not amount to a usurpation of power.
- Judicial Delays: Amaleboba attributed delays in court cases to the low number of judges and procedural complexities. She noted that while timelines could improve efficiency, they would require adjusting the number of cases assigned to each judge.
- Access to Justice: She also called on the Ghana Bar Association to promote pro bono services by legal practitioners, as a way of improving access to justice for vulnerable groups.
Despite the political tensions, Amaleboba’s responses provided insight into her judicial philosophy and potential contributions to the Supreme Court bench.
