Accra, July 3, GNA - Parliament on Thursday unanimously approved the appointment of Mr Justice Kingsley Acquah as the Chief Justice of Ghana. Mr Eugene Atta Agyepong, Vice Chairman of the Appointments Committee, laid the 21 page report that said the nominee during the one and half hearing convinced them that he was knowledgeable, firm and fair and on top of the constraints facing the country's Judiciary.
The Committee noted that Justice Acquah's deep involvement in the administration of the Judicial Service has provided him with immense insights into the constraints facing Ghana's Judiciary. The Report said the nominee noted that the Constitution has adequate provisions on the Judiciary; however, he expressed regret that it was too detailed as compared to the American Constitution and this according to him stifled judicial initiative at the Supreme Court. The Committee noted with satisfaction the nominee's avid and downright answers concerning the report on perceived corruption in the Judiciary and accountability of Judges.
It said the nominee told the Committee that he formally believed in easy access to the Supreme Court irrespective of one's financial standing and was of the opinion that the practice of awarding costs against applicants seeking interpretation of various constitutional provisions would be discouraged during his administration. Justice Acquah was of the view that the position of Attorney - General should be de-coupled from that of Ministry of Justice to ensure justice delivery. He also proposed the establishment of Criminal Justice Council to advise government and to superintend over the administration of criminal justice in the country.
Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, NDC-Kumbungu and ranking member, supported the approval of the nominee and said judicial accountability would ensure that individual judges and judicial officers were put on the alert. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, commended the President for nominating people of high calibre since his assumption of office, which was a demonstration of the government's preparedness to ensure democratic governance.
Alhaji Abubakari Sumani, NDC- Choggu/Tishigu, said the President's choice of a Chief Justice was in the right direction but felt if a woman were appointed to that position it would have been an historical event. He said he was awarding zero points to the Ministry of Women's Affairs, the Ministry of Girl Child Education as well as other women's groups for failing to campaign for the nomination of a woman Chief Justice.
Papa Owusu Ankomah, Attorney - General and Minister of Justice, said appointments to the Supreme Court often generated heated debates especially among the civil society but was confident that the President had made the right choice. He said "we are in a critical time in the judicial history of this country with accusations but the capability of Justice Acquah was not in doubt to bring sanity to the Judiciary".
Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader, said the discovery of Justice Acquah in 1989 by the previous administration was a good choice and this was shown by whole-hearted support from both sides of the House. Mr Felix Owusu-Agyepong, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, commended the Appointments Committee for its good work in recommending the nominee and urged all to approve his appointment.