President John Dramani Mahama has nominated two Court of Appeal judges and a former President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) for appointment to the Supreme Court, subject to parliamentary approval.
Approval of all three nominees would increase the number of serving Justices of the Supreme Court from 18 to 21.
The nominees are Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, both Justices of the Court of Appeal, and Mr Tony Forson, a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
The nominations were made in consultation with the Judicial Council, in accordance with Article 144 of the 1992 Constitution, which requires the President to consult the Council before appointing Justices of the Supreme Court. The appointments will take effect only after vetting and approval by Parliament.
Justice Amoako Asante previously served as President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice before returning to Ghana’s Court of Appeal. Justice Bernasko Essah has served on the Court of Appeal and has held various positions within the Judiciary over the course of her judicial career.
Mr Forson is the only nominee drawn from private legal practice. He is a former President of the Ghana Bar Association and has practised law in Ghana for several years.
The three nominees are expected to appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting. The committee will subsequently present its report and recommendations to the House for consideration before a final decision is taken.
If approved by Parliament and subsequently sworn into office by the President, the nominees will join the Supreme Court, Ghana’s highest judicial authority.
