Supreme Court dismisses objection to Justice Gaewu's recusal
Accra, Ghana - October 30, 2024 - In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has rejected an objection raised by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin's legal team, deeming it "misconceived." The objection centered around Justice Yao Gaewu's alleged affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and potential impartiality in the case concerning four vacant parliamentary seats.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo led the bench in clarifying that the matter at hand is a constitutional issue, rather than a party-specific case. This distinction dismissed concerns about Justice Gaewu's impartiality. After a brief adjournment to consider the objection, Chief Justice Torkonoo ruled that Justice Gaewu would remain on the panel.
Additional Developments in the Case
- Striking Out Affidavit Paragraphs: Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame requested that paragraphs 21 and 49 of the Speaker's affidavit be struck out, citing them as "scandalous" and irrelevant. The court will consider this objection in the final judgment.
- Protocol Breach: Joe Ghartey, representing NPP Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, was barred from making a preliminary statement due to a protocol breach. The court reprimanded Ghartey for allowing junior counsel to open the defense.
The hearing will continue, with the court moving forward to debate the legitimacy of the Speaker's ruling on the disputed parliamentary seats.
Source: Lead News Online
