A heated exchange broke out between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga during the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie on Monday, November 10, 2025.
The confrontation began when Mr. Ayariga objected to Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s attempt to deliver his opening remarks, insisting that the issue had already been dealt with in Parliament through a prior motion.
Earlier, during his submission, Mr. Afenyo-Markin referred to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as a “disputed Chief Justice nominee,” a description that immediately drew protests from the Majority Leader.
Mr. Ayariga argued that the vetting process was “not a courtroom proceeding” and demanded that the Minority Leader withdraw the remark and offer an apology.
In a swift rebuttal, Mr. Afenyo-Markin accused Mr. Ayariga of “acting in bad faith” and attempting to stifle the Minority’s right to freely express their position on the nominee.
He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, describing the process as “opaque”—a comment that further escalated the exchange.
The fiery back-and-forth underscored the deep political divisions in Parliament over Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s nomination and reflected the partisan tensions shaping the vetting process of the acting Chief Justice.
