In a decisive ruling today, the Supreme Court of Ghana has dismissed the application for interlocutory injunction filed by Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Etse Dafeamakpor against the Speaker of Parliament seeking to halt the vetting and approval process of ministers by the legislative body.
The Chief Justice who presided over the five Supreme Court panel stated that the application lacked merit, particularly in light of the two sets of ministers presented to Parliament on February 24th.
Chief Justice Torkornoo emphasized that there was no legal basis to prevent Parliament from carrying out its constitutional duties regarding the vetting and approval of ministers.
She thus announced that “the application is dismissed as frivolous and an abuse of court processes”, stating that the reassignment of the ministers did not impact the vetting and approval process currently underway in Parliament.
The focus of the case, according to the Chief Justice, Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo revolved around the second set of reassigned ministers, including notable figures such as Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Francis Assenso Boakye.
The dismissal came after thorough deliberation and arguments presented by legal representatives of the Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney General, Thaddeus Sory and Godfred Yeboah Dame respectively.
Plaintiff’s Lawyer Declines to Accept Court Document
Meanwhile, during the court proceedings, it was revealed that Mr Dafeamakpor’s lawyer, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo refused to accept certain documents, including the notice of hearing and the Attorney General’s opposition to a temporary court order.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame reacting to Mr Dafeamekpor’s counsel’s conduct criticized it and described it as disrespectful to the court but urged the Supreme Court to proceed with the hearing regardless.
The South Dayi Member of Parliament, Honorable Rockson Nelson Etse Dafeamakpor’s suit aimed to restrain the Speaker of Parliament and the Chamber from vetting and approving certain ministers referred to the House for consideration and appointments by President Akufo-Addo.
The plaintiff sought various declarations and orders, including an order from the Supreme Court directing the President of Ghana to submit revoked ministerial appointments for parliamentary approval.
He also sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Speaker of Parliament, the 1st Defendant herein, from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the nominees of the President submitted to Parliament until their appointments meet parliamentary approval requirement.
There was also a relief by the plaintiff that sought for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Speaker of Parliament, 1st Defendant herein, from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the nominees of the Presidential submitted to Parliament until all appointments comply with parliamentary approval protocols.
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