Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour-Awuah, has defended the Minority’s decision to stage a walkout during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, describing it as a peaceful, strategic, and well-considered action.
In an interview, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker explained that the decision was made spontaneously, guided by lessons from similar incidents during previous sittings of the Appointments Committee in the 9th Parliament.
“There was no prior meeting or plan. The decision arose from the situation at hand, informed by what we’ve seen in past committee sessions since this Ninth Parliament began,” he said.
“We asked ourselves what would serve the best interest of the Minority, the nation, and even Ghana’s image internationally. We did not want Parliament to appear chaotic or confrontational, so we chose the peaceful path.”
According to Nana Baffour-Awuah, the Minority carefully considered how Ghanaians, renowned for their commitment to peace and order, would view the proceedings.
He stressed that walking out was a more responsible option than engaging in a heated debate that could have heightened tensions.
The Minority caucus walked out in protest against what they described as unresolved legal issues surrounding Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s nomination by President John Mahama.
Despite the walkout, the Majority side continued with the vetting, insisting that Parliament had a constitutional duty to proceed in the absence of any court injunction.
