The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has denied receiving any interlocutory injunction related to the case brought by Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor over the ministerial appointment made by President Akufo-Addo.
Mr. Dame, in a letter addressed to the Speaker on Thursday, March 21, clarified that he has not been served with any legal documents regarding such court proceedings.
“The plaintiff has not filed an application for interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President…”, or indeed, any other interlocutory relief.”
“Thus, there is nothing before the Supreme Court which may constitute a restraint or fetter on Parliament from proceeding with the approval of ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees presented to Parliament by the President in accordance with articles 78(1) and 79(1) of the Constitution.”
Parliament suspended the vetting process for the nomination of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State by President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, March 20, following a reported interlocutory injunction filed at the Supreme Court by MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
In his closing remarks to the House before adjourning on Wednesday, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin cited the lawsuit as the reason for suspending the vetting process, as it prevented Parliament from proceeding with the nominations.
“Hon Members, I also bring to your attention, the receipt of a process from the Courts titled Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor vrs. The Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney-General ( Suit no. J1/12/2024) which process was served on the 19th of March 2024 and an injunction motion on notice seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President until the provisions of the constitution are satisfied.”
Now, the Attorney General has noted that since no injunction has been filed, Parliament ought to proceed with the vetting and approval of Ministers and Deputy Ministers appointed by the President.
“The substance of Mr Dafeamekpor’s suit is a challenge on the power of the President to relieve Ministers serving in his government of their portfolios and reassign them to different Ministries.”
“It has no bearing on the approval of persons newly nominated by the President as Ministers and Deputy Ministers and duly presented to Parliament for approval in accordance with articles 78(1) and 79 (1) of the constitution.”
Why don’t you go to Parliament to conduct the vetting and approval process? You can’t dictate to any of the arms of Government.