Parliament’s Appointments Committee will today (Friday) June 16, 2017, vet Justice Sophia Akuffo, President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for the position of Chief Justice.
Chairman of the Appointments Committee Joe Osei Owusu says each of the 26 members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament have a dedicated 20 minutes to ask any question of the Chief Justice nominee.
“The Chief Justice [Georgina Theodora Wood] has retired already… a vacuum, so to speak, has been created because the next available senior [Justice William Atuguba] is also due to retire in a few days from now. We considered all the circumstances and as a committee, we reviewed the fact that to date, no petition has been brought against the CJ nominee. It may be helpful to abridge the time and do it as quickly as possible.
“That will enable us to take the whole day [on Friday] and use the weekend to prepare a report and probably by Monday we’ll be ready for the report to be considered by the plenary,” Joe Osei Owusu said.
He added that, “This week, she [Sophia Akuffo] may not be able to start work, but beginning next week, she may be able to start work in full and administration of justice can then continue without any vacuum.”
MP for Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency Dr Appiah Kubi is hoping the vetting will only last for two hours.
He is praying the MPs will ask relevant questions but cautioned the nominee to also be precise in her answers to avoid needless banter during the vetting.
President Akufo-Addo last month announced Justice Sophia Akuffo as his choice of successor of Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood who retired on June 8, 2017.