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Supreme Court Judge nominee Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga has apologized to any political party or group of persons who might have been dissatisfied with a statement he read on behalf the Chiefs and people of Afadjato which sought to endorse President Nana Akufo Addo for his impressive performance when the latter visited the Volta Region in February 2020.

Justice Honyenuga, who is a Paramount Chief of Nyagbo traditional area, rendered the apology in response to a question by Hon Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tolon when he (Justice Honyenuga) appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting today, 11th May, 2020.

Walk-out

At a point during the vetting of the nominee, minority members on the Appointments Committee staged a 'walk-out' for a while.

The near stand-off was necessitated following a question by the NDC MP North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who sought to find out what informed comments made by the judge which later went viral purporting support for the Akufo-Addo-led government for another term.

Sing the Praises of Nana Addo

Justice Honyenuga was recently condemned by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region for singing the praises of the President and advocating a second term for him contrary to the Judicial Code of Conduct.

The NDC Secretariat called on the Judicial Council and the General Legal Council to take judicial notice of Justice Honyenuga’s transgressions and take appropriate action but nothing has been heard of it.

Reason For Declaration

Hon Ablakwa wanted to know "the reason behind such a declaration", since it flies in the face of the 1992 constitution, which bars chiefs from engaging in partisan politics.

But First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu, who serves as the Chairman of the Vetting and Appointments Committee, shot the question down by preventing Justice Honyenuga from answering it.

This provoked the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who is the Ranking Member of the Committee, to call his members out for a conference.

Hon Iddrisu described the First Deputy Speaker's objection to the question by Hon Ablakwa as "unfair".

On Behalf of House of Chiefs

When the group later resumed their participation, the nominee clarified that he was "speaking then on behalf of paramount chiefs of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs and did not intend to indulge in politics by the statement he read".

Justice Honyenuga also responded to many other questions from members of the Committee on issues such as cybercrime, the death penalty, banishment of persons by some chiefs as a traditional practice and the maximum number of judges to serve on the Supreme Court.

Death Penalty & Banishment

Responding to a question by Hon Muntaka Mubarak MP for Asawase on the banishment of persons by chiefs, Justice Honyenuga described the practice as "unconstitutional," hence he "doesn't support the practice."

On the issue of the death penalty, Justice Honyenuga expressed objection to the Imposition of the death penalty and suggested the imposition of life imprisonment instead.