The Minority members on Parliament's Appointments Committee have boycotted proceedings. They cited what they term irregular procedure adopted by the leadership of the Committee.

The Committee is currently vetting three nominees by President John Mahama. 

The Supreme Court nominees are; Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, also a Court of Appeal Justice and former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; and Anthony Forson Jr., a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.

Before leaving the session, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated their objection to the procedure adopted by the leadership of the Committee.

"The procedure that has been adopted is at variance with the orders of the House. How can you ask us to vet Supreme Court judges with three days' notice," he queried.

This was preceded by extensive debate between him and the Chairman of the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor.

"The standard practice is to give fourteen days' notice, advertise in the newspapers before the vetting is done," Afenyo-Markin stressed.

He proceeded to read concerns raised by then Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, when a similar situation, in which a short notice was given for the vetting of Supreme Court nominees.

Afenyo-Markin stated that, "to the nominees, we are not against your nomination, we are against the procedure and we cannot be part of this."

He then walked out, followed by other Minority members of the Committee.

Source: 3news