Parliament approves Anin Yeboah after vetting

Chief Justice-nominee Justice Anin Yeboah has been approved by Parliament after he was vetted by the Appointment Committee on Monday.

President Akufo-Addo is, however, yet to determine when he will be sworn into office.

During his vetting 2019, Justice Yeboah stated that the wigs and gowns are the uniforms of lawyers and he will never change it.

“That is our uniform…so I will never never change it,” Justice Anin Yeboah told the Appointments Committee.

The outgone Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo in a statement in November 2017 signed by her judicial secretary said: “the chief justice has directed that judges wear wigs during court sittings”.

She also said the wearing of the wigs “would provide the needed protection and anonymity for judges and enhanced personal security”.

There was an outpour of anger from some Ghanaian lawyers and ordinary citizens following the notice from the former Chief Justice.

Ghana copied this practice from its British colonial masters after gaining independence in 1957. Although the British have stopped the practice, Ghana is unwilling to adopt such a reform.

The BBC in 2011 reported that the UK Supreme Court ruled that lawyers appearing at the UK’s highest court will no longer have to wear the traditional wig and gown.