Supreme Court Nominations: We don’t need a bloated Bench – Kwaku Azar

Ghanaian lawyer and academic, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, has stated that the country does not need a large number of judges at the apex court to justify its expansion, but rather a Supreme Court composed of individuals with integrity, well-equipped, adequately resourced for the timely delivery of justice.

He also added that the country needs a Supreme Court with judges capable of operating independently and free from partisan influence.

“We do not need a bloated Bench. We need a credible, well-resourced, and independent SC,” he wrote on Facebook on April 30, 2025, while reacting to President John Dramani Mahama’s nomination of seven judges to the Supreme Court.

Kwaku Azar, as he is popularly known, emphasised some of these concerns, stating that the timing of the nominations is problematic.

He explained that the decision raises red flags, particularly as it coincides with the suspension and ongoing investigation of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo, for alleged misconduct — circumstances that could undermine the credibility of the entire process and give rise to perceptions of impropriety.

“This expansion also raises red flags of impropriety and timing. The naming of seven justices comes at a moment when the Chief Justice herself is under investigation. Proceeding with such sweeping appointments under this cloud risks tainting the process with perceptions of impropriety and undermines the credibility of both the nominations and the institution,” he said.

Azar further noted that the increasingly troubling trend of what appears to be the normalisation of political interference in judicial appointments could have serious consequences for the country if left unaddressed.

He also warned that one such consequence could be the erosion of public confidence in the judicial system.

His concerns come on the back of President John Dramani Mahama’s nomination of seven new Justices to join the Bench at the Supreme Court of Ghana, in accordance with Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which empowers the president to appoint justices to the highest court in the land.

The nominated justices are expected to undergo a review by the Judicial Council, which will provide advice to the president before they are presented for vetting in Parliament.

This process will ensure their suitability to serve on the Bench of the country's highest court.

The Judicial Council will review the nominations and provide advice to the president before they are vetted by Parliament.

Read Kwaku Azar's full post below:

MAG/AE

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