[ 2017-05-16 ]

Newly appointed Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo

Lawyer advocates for rotational system in CJ appointment
A private legal practitioner Yaw Oppong has
advocated for a change in the process of selecting
Chief Justices that removes the ethnic and
political undertones.

The lecturer with the Central University College
wants the post rotated among the Supreme Court
judges over a five-year tenure as it pertains in
US state of Georgia.

A rotation system could deepen the independence of
the judiciary, he told Samson Lardy Anyenini on
Joy FM/MultiTV’s news analysis programme
Newsfile Saturday.

The suggestion follows President Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo’s appointment of Supreme Court judge,
Justice Sophia Akuffo as the country’s next
Chief Justice.

The current Chief Justice, Theodora Georgina
Wood’s tenure as the head of the judiciary comes
to an end on June 8, 2017 and the President is
enjoined by Article 144(1) of the 1992
Constitution to appoint a successor. This,
according to the Constitution has to be done in
consultation with the Council of State and
approval by Parliament.

Supreme Court judges, Justices Jones Dotse and
Anin Yeboah were tipped for the CJ job and persons
who advocated for the two wove into their defense
ethnic and political considerations.

Some analysts who moved for Justice Dotse argued
because the President is from the Akan ethnic
group, the Vice President from the North and
Speaker of Parliament a Ga, the CJ has to come
from the Ewe ethnic group. This, they believe will
help to balance the ethnic scale.

But Mr Oppong said such analyses are divisive and
inappropriate considering all the Justices of the
Supreme Court qualifies for the position.

“When we do selective analysis, we create the
wrong impression,” he said, adding a change of
the selection process will cure the system of
divisive discussions.

Explaining the rotational system, the law lecturer
said the first most senior at the Supreme Court
should be made to occupy the CJ position and
handover to the next Justice after five years.

“This system will make the appointment of CJ
non-political…and enhance the independence of
the judiciary.”

“When we do selective analysis, we create the
wrong impression,” he said, adding a change of
the selection process will cure the system of
divisive discussions.

Explaining the rotational system, the law lecturer
said the first most senior at the Supreme Court
should be made to occupy the CJ position and
handover to the next Justice after five years.

“This system will make the appointment of CJ
non-political…and enhance the independence of
the judiciary.”

Source - theheraldghana.com

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