The Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, has stated that the interlocutory injunction application filed by the MP for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, aimed at halting Parliament’s confirmation of newly nominated ministers by President Akufo Addo, was ripe for hearing as all necessary procedures had been fulfilled.
Speaking to journalists in Accra yesterday, the Chief Justice revealed new measures to prioritize cases that have completed required processes for prompt hearing within the timelines.
She explained: “In this particular case, as soon as the case was filed, the Attorney General submitted his response, including an affidavit to the opposition. Consequently, the case was deemed ripe for hearing. With our impending Easter break, the Attorney General emphasized the matter’s significance in governance. Therefore, he requested the court to issue a hearing notice for the case.”
Explanations
She further elaborated: “The court had scheduled to convene on Wednesday, prompting the issuance of hearing notices. This ensured the attendance of the applicant, who initiated the case, along with the two other respondents”.
She added: “The bailiff went and served all parties with hearing notices, and when the court sat on that Wednesday, it formed part of the list because hearing notices had been served on everybody, and the respondents had filed their affidavit in opposition, while the Attorney General also did”.
She said when the case was called, the affidavit of service was on the docket. “We knew that the applicant had been served, the Speaker had been served, the Attorney General had been served, the Speaker’s lawyer was in court, the Attorney General was in court, Attorney General had filed his affidavit in opposition, so nothing should stop the hearing,” she stated.
She further explained the rationale behind implementing a shift system in certain courts, highlighting the need to alleviate the workload on judges.
Dismissed application
The Supreme Court on March 27 dismissed an application filed by South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, challenging the approval of new ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees.
In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the court held that the application was frivolous and an abuse of the court process.
The applicant had sought to halt the vetting process in Parliament pending the determination of his suit challenging the constitutionality of the President’s decision to reassign Ministers without Parliament’s involvement.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the MP’s case had no direct relevance to the nominees before Parliament, as it primarily concerned reassigned Ministers.