Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has launched a scathing attack on President John Mahama over his recent nomination of seven Court of Appeal judges to the Supreme Court, accusing him of attempting to consolidate political control over the judiciary in what he calls a “third-term agenda in disguise.”
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, 1 May, in Accra, Afenyo-Markin described the nominations as far from routine, warning that they reflect a deliberate plan to pack the apex court with loyalists who may shield the administration from future legal accountability.
“This is not a routine judicial appointment,” the Effutu MP declared. “What we are witnessing is a strategic and deliberate effort to pack the Supreme Court with loyalists.”
The nominations follow closely on the heels of President Mahama’s controversial suspension of the Chief Justice—a move that has sparked political and legal debate nationwide. Afenyo-Markin characterized the suspension and subsequent nominations as indicators of a deeper ambition.
“This is a deeper, more dangerous political ambition,” he warned. “It is akin to pursuing a third-term agenda through the judiciary.”
He further argued that the nominations threaten to erode public trust in the judiciary and weaken Ghana’s democratic institutions, stating, “This is not how a responsible government strengthens the rule of law. This is how a government tightens its grip on power through the backdoor.”
Calling for broad-based opposition to what he termed an “assault on judicial independence,” Afenyo-Markin urged civil society, religious organizations, and ordinary citizens to speak out and defend democratic norms.
“We must not be silent,” he said. “This is a national issue that transcends partisan lines. The integrity of our justice system is at stake.”
