The Supreme Court has denied a request by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s legal team for Justice Yao Gaewu to recuse himself from a case challenging the Speaker’s decision on four vacant parliamentary seats, labeling the objection “misconceived.”
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, leading the panel, clarified that this case revolves around constitutional interpretation, not political affiliation, dismissing concerns that Justice Gaewu’s alleged ties to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could affect his impartiality.
Following arguments from Speaker Bagbin’s lawyer, Thaddeus Sory, on October 30, the Chief Justice briefly adjourned the session before ruling that Justice Gaewu would remain on the panel.
The court also reviewed a separate motion from Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, seeking to strike out paragraphs 21 and 49 of the Speaker’s affidavit on grounds of irrelevance and defamatory language, a decision that Chief Justice Torkonoo deferred to the final judgment.
In addition, the court reprimanded Joe Ghartey, representing NPP Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, for allowing junior counsel to open the defense, a breach of protocol.
The proceedings are set to continue, with further arguments expected on the constitutional validity of the Speaker’s decision concerning the four contested parliamentary seats.
