The meeting will start at 11:00 a.m. and comes after President John Dramani Mahama nominated him for the position.

This was announced in a notice from David Sebastian Damoah, who is the Director of Media Relations at Parliament.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was nominated after Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from the position. She had been Chief Justice since 2023. During the meeting, Members of Parliament will look at his qualifications, beliefs about law, and ideas for improving Ghana’s justice system. They will then decide whether to recommend him to the full Parliament for approval.

In another matter, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, recently dismissed a request from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Afenyo-Markin wanted to stop the vetting process until some ongoing court cases involving the former Chief Justice were finished.

He argued that Parliament should wait, saying that stopping the meeting could interfere with the court cases. However, the Speaker said there were no legal reasons to pause Parliament’s work because of the court cases and that doing so could set a bad example.

The caucus blamed the tragic incidents on weak law enforcement and what it described as a lack of political will by the government to tackle the menace, which continues to claim lives and destroy the environment.

Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, called for urgent and decisive measures to curb the growing threat of illegal mining and its associated human and environmental toll.

“From January to July 2025, Ghana recorded at least 17 deaths linked directly to galamsey activities. These are not mere statistics; these are Ghanaian lives — breadwinners, mothers, sons, and daughters lost to the reckless pursuit of unregulated mineral wealth,” Mr. Konadu said.

He lamented that despite numerous warnings, the government had failed to implement effective interventions to prevent such tragedies.

“Mr. Speaker, how many lives must be lost before an urgent, decisive action is taken? The prevalence of death and environmental collapse is a direct consequence of ineffective law enforcement, the lack of political will, and, in some instances, the complicity of some state actors and traditional authorities,” he added.

Leading the list is Felix Akwetey Nii Okle, the MP for Bortianor-Ngleshi Amanfro, who missed an astonishing 23 meetings. He is followed closely by Joseph Frempong from Nkawkaw, who was absent 22 times, and Ernest Yaw Anim from Kumawu, who missed 21 sessions.

Other MPs with high absence rates include Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd.) from Jaman South, who missed 19 meetings; Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance and MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, who was absent 17 times; and Blay Nyameke Armah from Sekondi, who missed 16 meetings.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister and MP for North Tongu, was absent 15 times. Additionally, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie (Effiduase-Asokore), Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah (Takoradi), and Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng (Obuasi West) each missed 14 meetings.

Other MPs, like Sam Nartey George from Ningo-Prampram, and Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Minister for Employment) from Wa Central, along with Francis-Xavier Sosu from Madina, were each absent 13 times.

In response to these high absentee rates, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has instructed officials to improve attendance tracking. He has warned that continued absences could lead to serious consequences, including the possibility of losing their seat in Parliament, according to the rules.

Annoh-Dompreh criticized vague claims of an 81% budget success rate, calling for detailed priorities to ensure funds align with parliamentary goals. “We must set clear priorities and monitor fund usage,” he said, advocating for stronger oversight to combat wasteful spending amidst Western funding restrictions, per JoyNews.

He highlighted carbon credits as a viable revenue source, citing initiatives by the European Union and UAE. Additionally, he commended the Model Law on Factoring, linking it to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), one of the largest trade agreements post-WTO, urging its integration into Africa’s economic strategy.

The call for Pan-African Parliament accountability signals a push for fiscal responsibility. Stay updated on efforts to enhance Africa’s parliamentary oversight!

 source: myjoyonline

Presenting the report on the floor of Parliament, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, emphasized that the initiative is designed to strengthen multilateral relations and cooperation across critical sectors.

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These sectors include education, energy, trade, tourism, and agriculture—each expected to benefit from increased mobility, knowledge-sharing, and bilateral engagement.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, reassured Parliament that the agreements would not lead to any direct loss of revenue. He clarified that although visa fees would be waived, the resulting economic and diplomatic benefits far outweigh the potential fiscal trade-off.

According to Ablakwa, the move is anticipated to boost tourism and trade while reinforcing Ghana’s global partnerships. Over time, these diplomatic relationships are expected to yield long-term socio-economic development for both Ghana and its partner countries.

source: myjoyonline

His passing marks a significant loss to both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Ghana’s Parliament, where his contributions were beginning to gain recognition. Kumi, a first-time legislator, was elected on the NPP’s ticket during the hotly contested 2024 general elections, and had been involved in a string of legal controversies surrounding the legitimacy of his victory.

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Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of Ghana overturned a contempt conviction handed to him by the Koforidua High Court, which had accused Kumi of defying an interim injunction that barred him from presenting himself for swearing-in as an MP. A bench warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest after he allegedly failed to appear for scheduled court hearings, prompting debates over parliamentary immunity and legal accountability.

Despite these legal setbacks, Ernest Kumi had been a vocal advocate for development in the Eastern Region, especially on matters related to mining and youth employment.

His untimely death leaves the Akwatia constituency without representation and is expected to trigger a by-election, in accordance with Article 112(5) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

The Speaker of Parliament and party leadership are expected to issue formal statements soon.