Supreme Court to rule on Oppong Nkrumah's quest to halt court sittings during vacation today

The Supreme Court is set to announce its decision on Friday, August 21, regarding an application by Ofoase Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah to halt court sittings during the legal vacation. Oppong Nkrumah filed a writ challenging the decision by the Chief Justice to permit judges to hear criminal cases during the legal vacation. He requested the court to declare the Chief Justice's warrants as unconstitutional.

The case was adjourned on Thursday, August 20, after arguments were presented by both Oppong Nkrumah's counsel and the respondents. Oppong Nkrumah's lawyer, Frank Davies, objected to the Deputy Attorney General acting as counsel for the Chief Justice, arguing that since the Chief Justice was a defendant, he should have his own representative.

However, Justice Srem-Sai disagreed, stating that the Chief Justice should only have his own representation when there is a conflict between the position of a constitutional office and that of the Attorney General. Davies urged the Supreme Court to grant the injunction and prevent the courts from sitting during the legal vacation, emphasizing that the harm to the accused cannot be quantified monetarily and that monetary awards cannot compensate for the violation of their rights and liberties.

The Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, countered that the applicant had not met the grounds for granting an interlocutory injunction, citing three factors: the existence of a serious question in the substantive matter, potential irreparable damage if the application is refused, and the balance of convenience in favor of granting the application.

He maintained that the public interest outweighed any interference with the conduct of trials. Justice Pwamang was tasked with delivering his ruling on the injunction application on Friday, August 21.