'Flimsy, hollow, baseless!' - Ahiafor rubbishes Minority’s explanation for SC nominees vetting boycott

Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, has dismissed the Minority’s objection to the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees, describing the grounds for the objection as ‘flimsy’, ‘hollow’ and ‘baseless’.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin had called for the vetting to be deferred, arguing that there was no urgent vacancy on the Supreme Court bench to warrant the speedy vetting process.

However, Ahiafor rejected the objection, insisting that the committee could not overturn a decision already taken by the full House.

“Plenary has a right to vary the decision of the committee. However, if the House takes a decision, no committee can vary the decision of the House,” he indicated.

According to him, any member dissatisfied with a decision of Parliament must rely on the procedures provided under the Standing Orders to seek its reversal.

“If you are aggrieved by the decision of the House, the method available for you to reverse that decision is contained in our own Standing Orders.

BREAKING: Minority Caucus boycotts vetting of Supreme Court justice nominees

“I will not preside over this committee and purport to vary the orders or directions or decision taken at the plenary by the entire House,” Ahiafor stated adding that it is not done in any democracy, and he will not be the first to introduce it in Ghana’s democracy.

The Appointments Committee Chairman also rejected calls for the three Supreme Court nominees to be treated differently from other nominees appearing before the committee.

“I will not also preside over this particular committee and discriminate against the judges, allow the vetting of our colleagues and then reject the vetting of the judges’ nominee. I will not do that today. I won’t do that tomorrow,” he stressed.

Ahiafor subsequently dismissed the Minority Leader’s objection, maintaining that it lacked merit under Parliament’s rules and the law.

“I therefore consider all grounds of the Minority Leader as flimsy and hollow. I consider his objection to be frivolous, vexatious, unmeritorious, baseless on the facts, the rules and the law. Therefore, I will accordingly dismiss the objection by the Minority Leader,” he stated.

MRA/VPO

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