The Minority in Parliament has said it has no scores to settle with Chief Justice-nominee Justice Anin Yeboah.
The NDC caucus in Parliament has noted it will boycott the vetting of the nominee because the majority is rushing the process of his approval.
“The refusal of the Minority in Parliament to participate in the scheduled vetting of the President’s nominee has nothing to do with the person of the nominee. The minority is refusing to depart from the usual practice of Parliament in giving the public a two weeks period to submit memoranda on nominees before they are vetted. Whilst discussions are ongoing on the issue of the abridgement of time, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee unilaterally caused public announcements of the proposed date of vetting without regard to the ongoing processes of dialogue on the abridgement.
“The Minority takes the view that the public parliamentary vetting of the nominee for the high office of Chief Justice of the Republic is such an important event in our national life and should not to be rushed through and done in a partisan and one-sided manner. The present politicization of the discussion of the scheduling and the impression created that the nominee lacks political support from one side of the house is most unfortunate and does great disservice to the nominee,” the Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu said in a statement.
The statement added: “The Minority in Parliament further wishes to state and clarify its position on the Appointments Committee (imminent vetting) of Justice Anin Yeboah to the position of Chief Justice as follows: (1) The Minority holds dear the principle of a strong, independent and diligent parliament devoid of rubber stamp tendencies. (a) The President by a letter dated 12th December 2019 in consultation with the Council of State and according to article 144(1) of the constitution, nominated 5the appointment of Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah. (b) The Speaker accordingly and appropriately referred the consideration of the matter to the Appointments Committee.
(c) The Chairman of the Appointments Committee hurriedly convened an emergency meeting of the committee to determine a date and to request for public memoranda in accordance with known and established best practice”.
It concluded: “We are demanding a respect for processes and better management of time with particular reverence to the high office of Chief Justice (10) The Minority remains open to consultations on the matter consistent with our practices and rules as directed by Rt. Hon. Speaker Prof. Michael Aaron Oquaye on Friday December 13, 2019.
“(11) The Minority stands ready at all times to carry out its constitutional duties In the national interest, however, we refuse to become pawns in self-serving machinations”.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh