Justice of the High Court, Dr Richmond Osei-Hwere is advocating for swift adjudication of election petitions related to parliamentary disputes.
According to him, the current prolonged system in resolving electoral disputes emerging from parliamentary elections constitutes justice denied and requires immediate action.
Speaking at a conference on the judiciary and peaceful election he said “In the interest of justice, electoral disputes should be adjudicated promptly.”
“The right to fair hearing demands expeditious legal proceedings. The maxim ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ requires election petitions to be heard and determined promptly,” he said.
Justice Dr Osei-Hwere explained that delays undermine elected officials’ legitimacy, fueling speculation.
He argued that some individuals begin to speculate that the judicial process is rigged in favour of one party, which he said tarnishes the image of the judiciary in the public eye.
Additionally, he said delay in resolution dash a party’s hopes of enjoying litigation victory, while an illegitimate legislator occupies office without valid claim.
In this light, Dr Osei-Hwere stressed the importance of swift resolution of parliamentary election disputes, similar to the approach used in presidential disputes.
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