L-R: Gertrude Torkornoo, Mariama Owusu, Ernest Gaewu, Adibu-Asiedu
The Supreme Court on Friday, October 18, 2024, stayed the ruling of Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in the matter of the vacation of some four seats.
This was after the highest court of the land, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, heard an application by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament.
“Parliament has been directed to officially recognise the 4 MPs and allow them to represent their constituents,” a snippet of the ruling of the Court said.
The decision by the apex court effectively suspends the implementation of the Speaker’s ruling on October 17, 2024, pending further legal review and final determination, now making the NPP the majority caucus with the NDC maintaining its minority position.
The ruling was overseen by five justices of the Supreme Court.
GhanaWeb gives highlight on the justices who gave the ruling
1. Gertrude Torkornoo
Gertrude Torkornoo was nominated to the office of Chief Justice in April 2023 to succeed former Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah and was sworn into office in June 2023.
Gertrude Torkornoo was part of the seven-member panel that heard the 2020 election petition by John Mahama against the Electoral Commission of Ghana and Nana Akufo-Addo.
2. Mariama Owusu
Mariama Owusu was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge in December 2019.
She was among the seven-member panel that heard the 2020 election petition by John Mahama against the Electoral Commission and Nana Akufo-Addo.
3.Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu
Adibu-Asiedu has been a judge since 1996 and became a Supreme Court judge in 2022.
4.Ernest Yao Gaewu
Yao Gaewu served as a constituency chairman and parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party in the Ho West and Ho Central constituencies.
He resigned from politics after being appointed as a High Court judge in September 2020.
He was sworn into office as a Supreme Court justice in April 2023, becoming the first judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court directly from the High Court since 1980.
5.Yaw Darko Asare
Darko Asare was sworn into office by President Akufo-Addo on January 3, 2024.
MAG/EK
