The Supreme Court has today unanimously rejected a request by lawyers of SALL (Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi) for a Live Telecast of review hearing of the judgment they passed on 5th January 2021 regarding the quashing of Ho High Court’s decision injuncting John Peter Amewu from holding himself as member of parliament elect and Gazetting of his results.
The Court this year chaired by Justice Appau unanimously granted a Certiorari application filed by the Attorney General’s Department, meaning that the orders made by Ho High Court placing an interim injunction on the gazetting and swearing-in of Member of Parliament-elect for the Hohoe Constituency, John Peter Amewu has been quashed.
The unanimous decision of the apex court was that the people of SALL and their Lawyers could not say anything to justify the orders of the injunction that was granted by the Ho High Court adding that Peter Amewu had nothing to do with the denial of the voting rights of people of SALL by the EC, he only presented himself up for an election contest and won.
The Supreme Court also rejected the AG’s request seeking to prohibit the Ho High Court from further hearing proceedings in the said suit but added that matters relating to human rights infringement should be brought to the Supreme Court for determination.
Live Telecast Motion
After the ruling, counsel for the interested parties filed an application seeking a review of the Court’s judgment. On 26th January 2021 the interested parties moved a motion for the review application to be Telecast live on television due to the public order restrictions following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Counsel for SALL argued that a live telecast of the proceedings as is the case of the Supreme Court election petition hearing will help with the safety protocols put in place to check the public, including the justices sitting on the case.
The state represented by Chief State Attorney, Grace Awul, argued that it was not a matter that warranted a live transmission. She noted that no harm would be visited on the people of SALL if the application was rejected and thrown out.
Subsequently, the Court after listening to the parties ruled that it did not find any merit in transmitting live a short application for review of its ruling.
The apex court adjourned the substantive review motion to 3rd February 2021 and also dismissed a second application from the counsel of the interested parties for grant of leave to file further grounds of relief for the review application filed.
Filed By : Agaatorne Douglas Asaah / awakenewsroom.com
