Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is calling for legislation to set a cap on the number of Justices in the Supreme Court of Ghana.
While Ghana’s constitution mandates nine judges for the Supreme Court, it does not specify an upper limit.
This advocacy from the Speaker follows President Akufo-Addo’s nomination of two new judges, intended to replace two retiring Justices.
Speaker Bagbin argues that it is time to establish a maximum number of appointments to the Supreme Court.
“We are being called through this letter as a House to look into the issue of a full complement of the Supreme Court. Should it be 13, 15, 20, 40, or 100? It’s for this House to decide.
“I urge you to consider this issue and to enact reforms or pass legislation setting an upper limit for the number of Supreme Court Justices in a country of 33 million people,” Bagbin stated.
The Speaker’s recommendation to Parliament came after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo nominated Justice Sophia Rosseta Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong for the Supreme Court. This move is in response to the retirement of Justice Nii Ashie Kotey and the upcoming retirement of Justice Mariama Owusu.
On Monday, Speaker Bagbin forwarded the President’s nominations to the Appointments Committee for review and feedback.