The National Coordinator for the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for his nomination of seven new Justices to the Supreme Court, describing the appointments as non-partisan and a step toward restoring confidence in the judiciary.
President Mahama recently nominated seven Justices of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, in line with Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution. The nominations are subject to parliamentary approval.
Speaking in an interview on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on May 1, 2025, Vanderpuye praised the President for choosing individuals who, according to him, have no political affiliations or public records of partisan bias.
“No one can stand anywhere and say that these people have in one way or the other appeared in a political colour, appeared on any political platform. Have said things that justify their political leanings. These are the people when you nominate or propose it becomes acceptable to all. And I think that is the way we have to build our judicial system.
“Because one of the key issues is perception about the judiciary, and you and I will agree that, constantly, in the Afrobarometer report, we have seen the credibility and integrity of the judiciary going down. It’s because of the perception people have,” he said.
He noted that the judiciary’s perceived political bias, as reflected in public opinion surveys such as Afrobarometer, has contributed to a decline in trust and credibility. He believes the latest nominations are a deliberate attempt to reverse that trend.
“We needed to sanitise the system. And that is why I expect that we’ll have some commendations for President Mahama for being able to choose these people who other people will not have any adverse findings of any perception about. And rather have confidence that these people, when they go to the Supreme Court, will be able to advance the course of justice,” he stated.
The nominations are now awaiting vetting and approval by Parliament.
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