Accra: Justice Hafisata Amaleboba, a nominee to the Supreme Court, has emphasized the importance of neutrality for individuals serving dual roles as judges and chiefs, especially in political discussions. She urged them to be measured in their comments to maintain impartiality.
According to Ghana News Agency, Justice Amaleboba addressed these concerns during her vetting by Parliament's Appointments Committee. Her remarks came in response to questions about some chiefs expressing support for presidential candidates during election campaigns.
When questioned about the potential capping of Supreme Court judges, the nominee expressed her support for the idea but stressed that such actions should follow the resolution of backlog cases and jurisdictional issues. Additionally, she asserted that judges operate independently and are not swayed by the Chief Justice's knowledge of them prior to empanelment on cases.
Justice Amaleboba also highlighted the causes of delays in court proceedings, pointing to a shortage of judges, inadequate manpower, and procedural inefficiencies, particularly in filing pleadings. Addressing her presidential nomination to the Supreme Court over senior judges at the Appeals Court, she defended her qualifications, citing her 11 years on the bench and 15 years as a legal practitioner.
On family law, Justice Amaleboba clarified that property division in marriage dissolutions should be gender-neutral, citing a case where she awarded a portion of a wife's property to her husband. She further shared insights on constitutional and national issues.
Earlier this year, President John Mahama nominated seven justices from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court, a decision guided by Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution. This article mandates presidential appointments of Supreme Court Justices with Council of State consultation and parliamentary approval.
