Parliamentary Triumph Amidst Frightful Kerfuffle: Justice Baffoe-Bonnie Secures Chief Justice Post

Photograph of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie

A Most Extraordinary Proceeding in the Ghanaian Legislature

I say, what an absolutely splendid bit of parliamentary theatre we witnessed on Thursday! Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie - a fellow of quite impeccable credentials, I'm reliably informed - has been elevated to the supreme judicial office of Chief Justice, though not, one must confess, without the most frightful hullabaloo and general carrying-on!

The good chaps on the Appointments Committee, led by the estimable Bernard Ahiafor, declared - and I quote with some relish - that our man demonstrated "outstanding competence" and possessed a "very deep knowledge of the law." Quite right too! The fellow answered their probing questions with what they termed "professionalism, clarity, and intellectual rigour" - precisely the sort of thing one expects from a chap destined for the highest judicial office in the land!

The Vetting: A Masterclass in Judicial Bearing

Now, the vetting itself took place on Monday, November 10th - just a few days prior to this tremendous parliamentary showdown. By all accounts, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie put on an absolutely sterling performance before the Committee. The Chairman was positively effusive in his praise, noting that the nominee possessed not merely the technical qualifications - though he has those in spades - but also that rather ineffable quality: the proper "judicial temperament."

One imagines him fielding questions with the sort of measured gravitas that makes one think, "Yes, this is the sort of chap who ought to be interpreting constitutional law!" The Committee concluded, with evident satisfaction, that he demonstrated a firm commitment to constitutional values and the independence of the judiciary. All terribly important stuff, that!

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The Parliamentary Donnybrook

But here's where it gets frightfully interesting, dear reader! Thursday's proceedings in the Chamber descended into what can only be described as the most marvellous constitutional contretemps!

The debate itself revealed a House divided right down the middle - the Majority backing their man with considerable enthusiasm, whilst the Minority dug in their heels with equal determination. One could practically feel the tension crackling through the Chamber like static electricity before a thunderstorm!

Speaker Bagbin - doing his level best, one imagines - proclaimed "the ayes have it" after a voice vote. Simple enough, one might think! But crikey, the Minority weren't having any of it! They invoked Order 151(3) - terribly technical stuff, all very procedural - and demanded a proper headcount. Fair enough, democracy and all that!

The Numbers Game and Rather Awkward Allegations

When the dust settled from the headcount: 163 MPs for, 69 against. Rather conclusive, what? One would think that would be the end of it!

But then - and this is the absolutely delicious bit - the Honourable Member for Tolon, one Habib Iddrisu, wasn't satisfied! Claimed the numbers were all wonky, alleged that non-MPs were skulking about the chamber when they jolly well shouldn't have been - specifically fingered the Ashanti Regional Minister, still planted in his seat like a potted plant when protocol demanded he scarper!

The poor chap stood up and made his protestations known in no uncertain terms: "Mr Speaker, I made the application because I don't believe it is the right number of MPs that stood up to vote 'aye'." Rather pointed accusation, that! He wanted a division - the full Monty, clearing the lobbies, secret ballot, the works! Frightfully dramatic stuff! The sort of thing that makes parliamentary procedure actually rather exciting, if one's honest about it.

The Final Word

Despite these protestations and objections - and one does admire the fellow's pluck in standing his ground - Speaker Bagbin held firm: "The ayes have it!" And so Justice Baffoe-Bonnie ascends to become Ghana's Chief Justice, ready to uphold "the independence, integrity, and dignity of the highest court of the land."

Democracy in action, my friends! Messy, noisy, occasionally preposterous, but ultimately rather magnificent! What-ho!