The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has slammed the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over President John Dramani Mahama’s nomination of seven Court of Appeal justices for appointment to the Supreme Court.

Speaking at the commencement of the vetting of the seven justices on Monday, June 16, 2025, Afenyo-Markin, who is the Ranking Member of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, accused the NDC of being hypocritical.

He said that the ruling party, when it was in opposition, accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of packing the court anytime judges were appointed and even rejected the appointment of two Supreme Court justice nominees.

“This government's double standard is staggering. The same NDC that relentlessly opposed Justice Sophia Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frempong Oppong's nomination under President Akufo-Addo, crying that the court was bloated, now presents seven nominees simultaneously.

“Where was their concern about court size then? This gross dishonesty and rank opportunism insult our intelligence and constitutional processes. When two very qualified justices sought appointment, the NDC screamed about judicial bloating. Now with seven nominees, they discover urgent constitutional necessity.”

He added, “Such breathtaking inconsistency exposes an administration driven by political calculation, not constitutional principle.”

The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, refuted the Minority Leader’s claim of hypocrisy on the part of his party over the nomination of the seven judges.

He explained that the rejection of the nominations of Justice Sophia Bernasko Essah and Professor Richard Frempong Oppong was because there was no immediate vacancy on the bench.

He also indicated that the opposition to their nomination, which was days before the 2024 general election, was to allow the next government the opportunity to fill the vacancy that would arise in the court due to the pending retirement of some of the justices.

BAI/MA

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