Supreme Court Dismisses Review Application Of Judgement On Deputy Speakers’ Voting Right
The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal of its earlier decision on deputy speakers or members presiding in parliament’s voting rights.
Justice Abdulai, a private legal practitioner and the initial plaintiff in the case, requested a reversal of the judgment, claiming that it “constitutes extraordinary circumstances that resulted in a miscarriage of justice.”
In his statement of the case, Justice Abdulai stated that there was a discovery of “new and important matter or evidence which, after the exercise of due diligence, was not within the applicant’s knowledge or could not be produced by him at the time when the decision was given.”
The court, however, dismissed the application on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
Diana Asonaba Dapaah, a Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice contended that Justice Abdulai failed to prove that the judgment caused the miscarriage of justice he claims, nor did he disclose any matter he wanted the Court to examine.
She urged the Court to deny the application, claiming that it is devoid of merit and is a flagrant abuse of the legal system.
The review application was dismissed by the Supreme Court because it fell short of the specified threshold and had no merit, according to the court.
Justices Nene Amegatcher, Prof. Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Gertrude Torkornoo, Clemence Honyenuga, Prof. Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, and Emmanuel Yony Kulendi were on the review panel, which was headed by Justice Jones Dotse.
On March 9, 2022, the Supreme Court declared that Deputy Speakers presiding over Parliamentary proceedings had the authority to vote on issues and be counted as part of the quorum for decision-making.
Those who disagreed with the Supreme Court’s decision, including the Speaker, pushed for a review of the application.
