Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, expressed deep shock over what he described as hypocrisy and double standards displayed by the Supreme Court in its ruling on vacant parliamentary seats on October 30, 2024.
Cudjoe criticized the Chief Justice’s apparent focus on ensuring representation for constituents whose MPs chose to defect to other parties after nearly four years in office.
He argued that this intense interest in the MPs’ actions seemed to overlook broader accountability issues, raising concerns about impartiality and fairness within the judicial system.
“And yet, when my SALL people were deliberately disenfranchised and we ran to the same Supreme Court for protection, it did not offer this level of comfort it so lavishly and without shame displayed towards other constituencies.
“We had gone to the Supreme Court to expeditiously protect our rights that had been violated and had the highest risk of being violated for the duration of the existing Parliament”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe highlighted the Supreme Court’s dismissal of those, including himself, who advocated for representation in Parliament for the people of SALL (Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi).
He noted that despite their push for justice, the Supreme Court redirected them to the High Court, suggesting they “try our luck” there.
Cudjoe recounted how SALL representatives, following the Supreme Court’s advice, filed their case in the High Court, seeking to secure parliamentary representation for their constituents.
He indicated that, however, after nearly three years of persistent legal efforts, the High Court ultimately ruled just a few months ago that it lacked jurisdiction to hear their case.
This development, he argued, underscores the systemic challenges and procedural obstacles that have continuously impeded SALL’s fight for fair representation.
He noted that for four years, SALL communities have been abandoned and marginalized by the system,“…and yet we paid taxes, although we saw no development”.
Cudjoe Raises Concerns Over SALL Appeal to Superior Court
Franklin Cudjoe further stated that, in light of the High Court’s recent ruling, SALL representatives are now appealing to the Superior Court, continuing their pursuit of fair parliamentary representation.
However, he expressed serious concerns about the likelihood of their case being genuinely addressed.
Cudjoe pointed to what he described as a “contrived, shambolic display” of favoritism by the Supreme Court in its handling of the recent vacant seats ruling, suggesting a clear “political bias” in favor of certain constituencies while sidelining others like SALL.
This perceived partiality, he argued, raises significant doubts about the impartiality of the judiciary and leaves him skeptical that SALL’s appeal will ever reach a fair hearing.
“What was so special about the 4 constituencies whose MPs had abandoned in their hearts that the Supreme Court can even entertain the hearing of an ex-parte motion procured cheaply at the speed of light and rule on that? That the delinquent MPs salaries and emoluments will be affected? Really?
“The lives of those 4 constituents who were allegedly going to be denied representation for about 80 days matter to the SC more than those of SALL that never got represented for 1460 days! Legal plunder! Gangster system! See why 65% of Ghanaians distrust the SC?”
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe questioned the Supreme Court’s inconsistency, asking why it did not apply the same principle to the Majority Leader’s lawyers that it had used against SALL advocates by directing them to the High Court.
This, he argued, highlights a troubling double standard within the judicial system.
Cudjoe went on to characterize the situation as “premature judicial terrorism,” suggesting that the selective application of legal principles amounted to an abuse of judicial power, serving specific interests at the expense of others.
Such actions, he noted with sadness, point to a system enabling “legal plunder,” where justice seems swayed by political considerations rather than impartiality and fairness.
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