“Mahama pledges to revive constitutional review process to limit the number of Supreme Court justices.”

John Dramani Mahama, the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that if he is re-elected as president, his administration will revive the constitutional review process to cap the number of justices on the Supreme Court bench.

The 1992 Constitution stipulates a minimum of nine justices on the Supreme Court bench, including the Chief Justice, but it does not specify an upper limit.

During a media encounter in Accra on Sunday night, July 7, former President Mahama stated that he will let Ghanaians decide whether the number of justices should be capped at 15, or if it should be reduced or increased.

Mr. Mahama added that he does not believe the Chief Justice should be the one to determine the number of justices, suggesting that the cap should be set at 15.

He made these remarks while disagreeing with Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s recommendation to the president to appoint five additional justices to the Supreme Court bench.

Former President Mahama noted that this approach is unusual, as it is typically the president who nominates justices based on the advice of the Judicial Council, and then forwards the names to Parliament for approval.

“I can’t understand why the Chief Justice would be the one recommending which judges to appoint. The constitution clearly states that the president appoints judges with the advice of the Judicial Council. The initiative to appoint judges must come from the president, who submits it to the Judicial Council for advice, and then the president forwards it to Parliament. That is the proper procedure,” Mahama explained.

He also pointed out that the constitutional review committee had recommended capping the number of Supreme Court justices at 15. “The issue of capping the number of Supreme Court judges is not for the Chief Justice to decide. We will resurrect the constitutional review process when I become president, and we will ask the Ghanaian people whether we should retain the cap at 15, reduce it, or increase it. I don’t believe it should be the Chief Justice who decides that we should increase and cap it at 15,” Mahama added.

SUMMARY

• Gender Equality: Gender equality will be a key focus of my government.
• Economic Reset: I will reset Ghana’s economy and turn the tide.
• 24-Hour Economy: This will serve as a solid base for import substitutes and will act as an accelerator.
• Local Processing: Businesses will be incentivized to start processing locally.
• Boosting Imports: A 24-hour economy will boost imports.
• Export Development: I will personally chair an accelerated export development program.
• Economic Structure: I will change the structure of the Ghanaian economy with active private sector growth.
• Government Size: I am committed to drastically reducing the size of the government and will run a lean government with 60 ministers.
• Corruption: My goal is to launch a new fight against corruption.
• Agro-Industrial Zones: Establish agro-industrial zones in all 16 regions.
• Food Security: Create opportunities for food security by establishing farmer services centers across the country and launching a program similar to “Operation Feed Yourself.”
• Internet Access: Everyone should have access to internet connectivity.
• Youth Employment: The next NDC government will create 300,000 employment opportunities for young people in the digital area.
• Coder Training: Train one million coders.
• Digital Inclusion: No Ghanaian will be left behind in the digital revolution.