The Minority members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament have lent support to a consensus to approve Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo as Chief Justice.
After her nearly four-hour vetting by the Committee on Friday, May 26, Justice Torkornoo was told by the Minority that the caucus would want to see her portion of the written judgement on the James Gyakye Quayson case before deciding on her nomination.
That judgement was released on Monday, June 5.
“James Gyakye Quayson is gearing up to contest the bye-election in Assin North constituency which has been brought about by the Supreme Court’s decision,” the Minority noted in a statement on Tuesday, June 6.
“In that regard, we the members of the Appointments Committee representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not withhold our approval of the Chief Justice nominee by consensus,” the statement signed by Minority Chief Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza said.
“Her curriculum vitae reveals a person of considerable experience having served as a judge from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and ultimately at the Supreme Court.
“Women who have acquitted themselves should be given opportunities to occupy key national offices.
“Even as we disagree with her jurisprudence, we find her qualified to occupy the high office of Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.”
By this decision, Justice Torkornoo will be approved on consensus in a report to be submitted to plenary by the Committee as Parliament resumes on Tuesday.
She is, therefore, set to be Ghana’s next Chief Justice after Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah, who proceeded on mandatory retirement at 70 on Wednesday, May 24.