The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has dismissed claims that Justice Gabriel Pwamang Committee set up by President John Dramani Mahama to investigate petitions against Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, acted improperly, stressing that all proceedings followed constitutional and parliamentary rules.

He made the remarks on Monday, November 10, 2025, when Chief Justice nominee Paul Baffoe-Bonnie appeared before the Appointments Committee for his vetting.

“The work of the proceedings, at no stage have you shown that the rules in the Constitution governing the work of the committee have been breached in any way. How can you come and sit here and describe the work as opaque, a travesty of justice, or an improper removal, and expect me to allow that? You are clearly violating the rules. And when I try to guide you on how to go about your work, then you say that I’m trying to obstruct you,” Ayariga said.

Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to face vetting despite Minority's attempt to block move

His remarks came after the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, referred to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as a “disputed Chief Justice nominee” during his introductory comments at the vetting.

“We gather to vet the disputed nominee for the office of Chief Justice. This is a case of whether Ghana’s judiciary will remain independent,” Afenyo-Markin said.

Baffoe-Bonnie Vetting: 'You don't have the right to tell me what to do' – Ahiafor tells Habib

However, Mahama Ayariga immediately objected to the characterisation. “I am objecting to the term ‘disputed’ because there is no dispute regarding the nominee before us,” he said.

Justice Torkornoo, appointed Chief Justice in June 2023, was removed from office on Monday, September 1, 2025, by President Mahama, acting on the recommendation of a constitutional committee formed under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution to probe three petitions accusing her of misconduct in office.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior among the nine remaining justices of the Supreme Court, stepped in to serve as the Acting Chief Justice of Ghana.

See the video below:

🇬🇭 ‘You have no right to look him in the face and refer to him as a disputed nominee, and expect me to sit here and not respond,’ Mahama Ayariga says, raising concern after Afenyo Markin referred to Chief Justice nominee Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as a disputed nominee during his… pic.twitter.com/XmpdLUSkHd

— CDR AFRICA (@cdrafrica) November 10, 2025

I will not allow you to breach any of the rules today -Majority leader Mahama Ayariga warns Afenyo Markin #PrimeRakon pic.twitter.com/TYSR3AHoBs

— Prime Rakon (@prime_rakon) November 10, 2025