Appointments Committee to vet Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Ayariga on August 25

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has referred two ministerial nominees to the Appointments Committee for vetting.

The nominees are Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, designated for the Environment, Science and Technology portfolio, and Mahama Ayariga, nominated to head the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

Announcing the referral on the floor of Parliament on Monday, August 24, 2026, during an emergency recall sitting, Speaker Bagbin said: “I accordingly refer the two to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report to the House.”

He also urged the committee to take into account the limited time available under the emergency recall.

“I want to remind the House that the period I gave in my notice is for a sitting of one week and that should be taken into consideration by the Appointments Committee. In other words, the consequential motions will have to be made and we have to abide by our Standing Orders,” he said.

Supreme Court nominees

Speaker Bagbin also informed Parliament of a communication from President John Mahama dated August 21, 2026, regarding nominations for appointment to the Supreme Court.

According to the communication, three nominees had been submitted to the Judicial Council for consideration.

They are Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, also a Justice of the Court of Appeal and former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; and Anthony Forson Jr, a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.

Bagbin said the Council of State, in a letter dated August 20, 2026, informed the President that it had considered the nominations and found all three candidates “qualified and suitable” to serve as Justices of the Supreme Court.

The Council consequently recommended their appointments.

Speaker Bagbin subsequently referred the three nominees to Parliament’s Appointments Committee for consideration and a report to the House.