Lawyers for Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament have requested that Supreme Court Justice Ernest Gaewu step down from a case involving a decision to declare certain parliamentary seats vacant, arguing his past political affiliations could compromise impartiality.

The Supreme Court began hearings on Wednesday, 30 October, after Speaker Alban Bagbin filed a suit to challenge a previous court ruling. The ruling had placed a stay of execution on the Speaker’s decision regarding the disputed seats.

Thaddeus Sory, the lead counsel for the Speaker, argued that Justice Gaewu’s past ties to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could affect his neutrality. Mr Sory stated that Justice Gaewu had once been publicly associated with the NPP and even ran as a parliamentary candidate for one of its constituencies in Ghana’s Volta Region.

Mr Sory expressed concerns that the judge’s previous political involvement might influence his views on the case, which carries substantial political weight. He requested that Justice Gaewu step down to preserve the court’s integrity and ensure unbiased proceedings.

Source:TheDotNews