The NPP’s Desperate Attempt to Hold Ghana Hostage Over the Chief Justice’s Vetting

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has once again shown that when political power slips through their fingers, their fallback strategy is to hold the entire nation to ransom. Their latest ploy — using the former Chief Justice’s ongoing lawsuits as an excuse to stall Parliament’s constitutional duty of vetting the new Chief Justice nominee — is not only frivolous but dangerously anti-democratic.

Let’s be clear: no court action can lawfully suspend Parliament from performing its constitutional functions. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana clearly separates the powers of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. Parliament’s power to vet nominees is not subject to anyone’s personal litigation — not even a former Chief Justice’s.

The suits filed by the ex-Chief Justice and a handful of NPP surrogates are classic examples of abuse of judicial process — political distractions designed to delay governance and embarrass the current administration. The removal of the former Chief Justice was done in strict accordance with constitutional provisions. The President acted on the recommendation of a constitutionally constituted committee; the process was transparent, lawful, and conclusive. Whether one likes the outcome or not, it stands until set aside by a competent court. No amount of political propaganda can rewrite that fact.

Yet, what we saw at today’s vetting was telling: NPP members of the Appointments Committee openly declared their intent to frustrate proceedings — echoing the same unsubstantiated claims being peddled in partisan write-ups and media statements. It is as though the NPP prefers chaos to constitutional order.

But imagine the implications if Ghana had bowed to their antics. The country would be without a substantive Chief Justice — the very head of our judicial system — paralysing the courts, delaying justice delivery, and undermining public confidence in the judiciary. The ripple effect on governance, investment, and international reputation would be catastrophic.

In short, the NPP’s tactics are not about defending constitutionalism; they are about protecting political privilege. They lost power, they lost control of the judiciary, and now they are weaponising litigation to cripple the state.

Ghanaians must see this for what it is — a desperate last-ditch effort by a party that refuses to respect due process when it doesn’t favour them. Parliament must stay its course, complete the vetting, and let Ghana move forward.

The rule of law is not served by delay — it is served by doing what is right, promptly and fearlessly.

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