Oppong Nkrumah drags Chief Justice to Supreme Court over ‘selective justice’ during legal vacation
Ofoase-Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, challenging directives from the Chief Justice that require selected judges to sit during the legal vacation to hear designated criminal cases.
Ghanaian Member of Parliament Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has taken the Chief Justice and Attorney-General to the Supreme Court, alleging "selective justice" during the legal vacation. The MP is seeking a declaration that the Chief Justice's directive ordering some judges to handle specific criminal cases during this break from regular operations is unconstitutional.
Oppong Nkrumah argues that the arrangement raises concerns about equality before the law, access to justice, and the wellbeing of legal professionals. He claims the practice violates constitutional provisions on equal treatment (Article 17(1)), protection from discrimination (Article 23), and workers' welfare (Articles 24, 36). The case hinges on whether prioritising certain criminal matters during the vacation, while others remain unaddressed, constitutes unequal treatment.
The lawsuit sheds light on the constitutional limits of the Chief Justice's discretion in organising court proceedings during the legal vacation. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Oppong Nkrumah, it could clarify the extent of judicial discretion and set boundaries on how cases are selected for vacation sittings. The outcome may influence how criminal cases are prioritized within Ghana's justice system moving forward.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
