Assin North injunction case: Lawyer laments being unaware of panel composition
Speaking at the Supreme Court on February 15, the lawyer, owing to the retirement of a member of the original panel, Justice Agnes Dordzie from the bench, asked their lordships for directives
The lawyer for the embattled Assin North MP, Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata has lamented about his side not being informed about the new panel composition in the substantive injunction case against his client.
Speaking at the Supreme Court on February 15, the lawyer, owing to the retirement of a member of the original panel, Justice Agnes Dordzie from the bench, thus asked their lordships for directives relative to her status to continue the case.
Additionally, Mr. Tsikata drew the court’s attention to their pending motion to strike out the suit, which has not been called after being filed in April 2022.
The original panel, which consisted of Dotse(JSC), Agnes Dordzie(JSC), Nene Amegatcher(JSC), M.Owusu(JSC), Torkornoo(JSC), M-Bonsu(JSC) and Kulendi(JSC) has seen the introduction of a new member, Ackah-Yensu(JSC) owing to the retirement of one.
Frank Davies, the lawyer for the plaintiff saw as surprising the stance taken by counsel arguing that the Justice in question had retired and thus could not be compelled to come and sit on the case.
He added that they wrote a letter to the Chief Justice as the plaintiff, for the constitution of the panel owing to the retirement of the member in question but took a cue from the bench per a suggestion for the Chief Justice to be consulted on the new panel.
At this point, Mr. Tsikata rose again and expressed his unhappiness about the fact that the plaintiffs wrote a letter ex-parte without informing the parties in the suit.
When interjected by the presiding judge, Dotse(JSC) to clarify whether his side was not happy about the new panel as it stands, Mr. Tsikata indicated that ‘The issue is not about the original panel or not. Things should be done properly.”
In his ruling, Justice Dotse also noted that since the parties were not informed about the letter for the panel constitution, they would crave the indulgence of the Chief Justice accordingly.
He thus adjourned the case to March 1, 2023.
