Mahama’s Nominees to The Supreme Court Aim to Promote Impartiality and Balance- Prof Khalid

Economic Advisor to the Vice President, Professor Sharif Khalid Mahmud, has posited that President John Dramani Mahama’s recent nomination of seven justices to the Supreme Court is a calculated endeavor to restore equilibrium to the country’s highest court.

In an appearance on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Professor Khalid contextualized the move within the broader historical framework of appointments made by successive presidents, underscoring that it exemplifies a pattern of democratic recalibration rather than partisan bias.

“I label the President’s appointment of these noble judges or justices to the Supreme Court as a balancing act of our apex court,” Professor Khalid stated.

He proceeded to delineate the history of Supreme Court appointments under Ghana’s Fourth Republic, highlighting that each administration has made substantial contributions to the composition of the bench.

Professor Khalid noted that former President Rawlings appointed 10 justices to the Supreme Court, while President Kufuor appointed 17 between 2000 and 2008.

He further observed that President Mills appointed three justices in a four-year period, and President Mahama appointed four during his tenure. In contrast, former President Nana Akufo-Addo appointed 15 justices in an eight-year period.

With the recent nominations, Professor Khalid calculated that the total number of justices would still be 11.

Professor Khalid’s remarks come amid a heated debate over the politicization of judicial appointments and concerns regarding the independence of the judiciary.

However, he emphasized that appointments by any administration should be viewed as part of a broader institutional evolution aimed at maintaining the ideological and generational balance on the Supreme Court bench.

He reiterated that,by appointing these seven justices, President Mahama is taking a significant step towards ensuring the Supreme Court’s composition reflects the diverse perspectives and experiences of Ghana’s legal community.

This move is expected to bolster the court’s ability to interpret the law impartially and uphold the principles of justice.