Thaddeus Sory, Lawyer for the Speaker of Parliament, on Wednesday, October 30, formally requested that Supreme Court Justice Yao Gaewu recuses himself from a case challenging the Speaker’s decision to vacate four parliamentary seats.
Sory pointed to Justice Gaewu’s alleged past association with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), suggesting a risk of bias.
The recusal request came amid intense court debates, with Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame challenging parts of the Speaker’s affidavit—specifically paragraphs 21 and 49—as “scandalous.”
“So far as I’m concerned apart from the use of the word ‘scandalous’ which he just used it doesn’t demonstrate how ‘scandalous’ it is based on the context of the application I have before the court”Thaddeus said.
These sections reportedly address political aspects of the Speaker’s decision, which Dame argued could compromise the case’s legal validity.
In a separate development, Joe Ghartey, representing Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, sought to make a preliminary remark.
However, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo reprimanded Ghartey for allowing a junior lawyer to present the opening comments, citing a lack of courtroom decorum. Ghartey’s remark was ultimately disregarded.
The case, which has garnered substantial public interest, is seen as a test of the balance between Ghana’s legislative and judicial branches.
The Supreme Court panel, led by Chief Justice Torkonoo, is set to rule on the recusal request and other significant issues later today.
