We Haven’t Rejected Justices Gaewu and Koomson – Appointments Committee

The Appointments Committee of Parliament has explained the fate of two justices nominated by the president to the Supreme Court after recommending the approval of two others.

Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu were nominated in July 2022 and vetted in October 2022.

The Committee has recommended the approval of Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu and Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu.

The 27th report on the nomination of judges to the Supreme Court submitted to the House said, “the nominees demonstrated dexterity in the knowledge of the law and showed character and competence”.

It said the two nominees have pledged to interpret the law without fear or favour and eschew partisanship in their rulings.

However, the report did not contain any details on Justice George Kingsley Koomson and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu.

This has raised questions about the fate of the two justices.

Addressing the matter, Deputy Ranking Member on the Committee, Muntaka Mubarak, said the Committee is yet to decide on the two.

He said members of the Committee could not reach a unanimous decision on the approval or rejection of Justice Koomson and Justice Gaewu.

“When we say we don’t have unanimity, especially on the case of the two, [it is because] on the day that we were taking the decision, the majority said no. They shouldn’t go to the Supreme Court, but that will be a recommendation to the House.

“The House will determine whether they agree with the Appointments Committee or disagrees with it. So at this stage, it’s very difficult to say whether you are rejecting or not because whatever you bring remains a recommendation. The final decision is that of the House,” the MP said to Citi News in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report.