According to the NDC, the Supreme Court did not demonstrate impartiality in arraigning and sentencing in “political cases” brought.
This criticism follows the Supreme Court’s decision to schedule a hearing on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 based on a writ filed in the Supreme Court by South Dai MP Rockson Nelson Etse K. Duffy-Amekpol. This is what I received. Dafa Amekpol seeks to restrain the Speaker and the Chamber from vetting and approving certain ministers of state referred to the House for consideration and appointment.
In a statement signed by NDC General Secretary Fifi Kweti, the party expressed intrigue over prioritizing the hearing of the Dafa Amekpor case, inter alia, ahead of the case of Richard Dela Skye v. Parliament and Attorney General of Ghana. .
“Interestingly, it was on March 5, 2024 that Mr. Richard Della Skye filed a summons to the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Sexual Rights and Family Values ​​Bill 2024. This was almost two weeks before Mr. Hon. Lockson Dafaamekpol filed a subpoena on March 18, 2024, challenging the constitutionality of the President’s latest Cabinet nominations. “Kweti explained.
The party added: “Given the recent political impasse that these two cases have caused between the executive and legislative branches of government, it is anticipated that the filing date of the cases will inform the timing of the hearing.” It will be done,” he said. supreme court. ”
“This is the Chief Justice’s ploy to deliberately and unjustifiably delay the judgment of the Richard Dela Skye case while rushing the judgment of the case filed by Mr. Rockson Dafairmekpol in order to allow the President to be shelved.” “It is clear that this is an important sexual rights and family values ​​bill passed by Parliament,” the NDC asserted.
The statement said: “What is even more bizarre is the fact that a lawsuit filed by some NDC MPs challenging the constitutionality of the passage of the Electronic Transfer Tax (E-Levy) Bill dating back to 2022 is not listed. There is,” he said. The case is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court. ”
Read the full statement below.
NDC Addresses Obvious Judicial Bias in Scheduling Political Cases in Ghana’s Supreme Court
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken cognizance of the decision of the Chief Justice of Ghana to enumerate the case of Lockson Nelson Etse K. Dafaamekpol v. Speaker of the National Assembly and Attorney General (Case Number: J1/12/2024 ). ) for a public hearing on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
The NDC is interested in having the Dafa Amekpor case listed for hearing ahead of the case of Richard Dela Skye v. Parliament of Ghana and the Attorney General.
Interestingly, it was on March 5, 2024 that Richard Della Skye filed a subpoena in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Sexual Rights and Family Values ​​Act of 2024. That’s what it means. This was almost two weeks ago. My lord. Mr. Rockson Dafaamekpol filed a subpoena on March 18, 2024 challenging the constitutionality of the President’s latest Cabinet nominations.
Given the recent political impasse that these two cases have caused between the executive and legislative branches of government, one might expect that the filing date of the cases would determine the timing of their hearing by the Supreme Court. .
However, for some strange reasons, in the case of Hon. Mr. Lockson Dafaamekpol, who was last in time to submit, was hurriedly listed for hearing, but Richard’s case, which was held two weeks before the Dafaamekpol incident, Mr. Della Skye’s case has not been listed for hearing at all. This is despite the fact that no application for reduction of the deadline has been filed by any of the parties to the Dafeamekpor case.
It is clear that this is a ploy by the Chief Justice to expedite the judgment of the case brought by Mr. Hon. Rockson Dafaamekpol wants the president to shelve important sexual rights and family values ​​legislation passed by Congress while the verdict in the Richard Dela Sky case is intentionally and unduly delayed It’s to do it.
What is even more bizarre is the fact that a lawsuit filed by some NDC members challenging the constitutionality of the passage of the Electronic Transfer Tax (E-Levy) bill dating back to 2022 has not been listed for hearing by the NDC. be. Supreme Court until now.
The arbitrary exercise of administrative discretion by the Chief Justice, particularly in scheduling cases before the Supreme Court, reinforces the high perception of bias in the judiciary.
Such judicial manipulation confirms the growing public perception that the present Chief Justice is an obedient accomplice and abettor of the misgovernment of the autocratic Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/Nuclear power plant government.
Although the Ghanaian Constitution provides the Attorney General with discretion in the performance of his administrative duties, it is important that such discretion is not exercised arbitrarily, capriciously or capriciously.
Judicial independence should mean exactly that. Under no circumstances should the judiciary act in accordance with a grounded belief that it intends to support an overbearing executive in conflict with the legislature.
The Chief Justice must recognize that justice emanates from the people and that the judiciary exists to serve the interests of the nation as a whole, not the interests of any particular political party or government. Therefore, fairness and balance must always be demonstrated throughout our work.
The list in this particular case, filed long after the Sky case, does not reflect these important assumptions.
We are too far along in the constitutional process to allow such blatant manipulation to pass without protest. This kind of behavior that the Chief Justice consistently displays against groups opposed to the NPP has been going on for far too long.
This not only undermines public trust in the judiciary, but also makes a mockery of our country’s democratic arrangements.
There is no earthly justification for listing the Defa Amekpol case ahead of the Richard Skye case, and we demand immediate correction of this travesty.
As a political tradition that produced a fourth republican democracy and a constitution, we condemn this biased handling of the case by the Chief Justice, which appears to be contributing to an increasingly serious perception of judicial bias in this country. I’m very concerned.
These acts of judicial arbitrariness tilt in favor of the ruling Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government and do not engender public trust and confidence in our judicial system. And this should give every well-meaning Ghanaian a legitimate reason to be concerned.
Signed.
FIFI Fiave Kweti
general secretary
Tuesday, March 27, 2024
Accra.