Supreme Court Retains ‘Selective’ Vacation Sittings Decision

The Supreme Court has rejected an application by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, to overturn its previous decision that allowed certain courts to continue criminal trials during the legal vacation. The three-member panel of Justices Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, Richard Adjei-Frimpong, and Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh found the application was without merit and did not meet the court's standards.

The Chief Justice's warrant permitting two courts to hear cases was dismissed on August 21 after the single judge, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, ruled that the applicant had not shown the warrant was discriminatory. The court reasoned that Article 19(1) guarantees prompt trials, and speedy trials are considered fundamental, but the warrant's issuance was intended to expedite criminal case handling.

Nkrumah's lawyer argued that the single judge's decision should have balanced the merits, while the Deputy Attorney General claimed the review application was below the court's threshold and did not disclose exceptional circumstances. The Supreme Court's ruling will be available on September 7, 2026.