Court of Appeal halts Amewu's entitlement as former MP amid SALL election dispute
The ruling, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Bright Mensah, also prohibits the Speaker of Parliament from recognizing Mr. Amewu as a former MP or processing any benefits or entitlements due to him until an ongoing appeal is resolved.
The Court of Appeal in Koforidua has issued an interlocutory injunction against John Peter Amewu, effectively barring him from presenting himself as the former Member of Parliament for the Hohoe Constituency in Ghana’s 8th Parliament.
The ruling, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Bright Mensah, also prohibits the Speaker of Parliament from recognizing Mr. Amewu as a former MP or processing any benefits or entitlements due to him until an ongoing appeal is resolved. Justices Noble Nkrumah and Hasata Amaleboba joined in granting the injunction.
This development follows an appeal filed by Professor Margaret Kweku and other individuals from the SALL (Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe) traditional areas. The appellants challenged a July 29, 2024 ruling by the Ho High Court, which dismissed their election petition on grounds of jurisdiction. That decision is now being contested at the appellate level.
On December 23, 2024, the applicants sought an interlocutory injunction, arguing that Mr. Amewu should not continue to enjoy the benefits or recognition of a former MP while the substantive matter remains unsettled.
Representing the appellants, legal practitioner Tsatsu Tsikata contended that justice demanded a halt to the disbursement of any parliamentary benefits to Mr. Amewu until the appeal had been determined. He emphasized the need to preserve the integrity of the appeal process.
In response, Mr. Amewu’s legal counsel argued that their client acted in good faith and that any procedural failures should be attributed to the Electoral Commission, not the MP himself.
Despite these arguments, the appellate court sided with the applicants, ruling that their case had merit and warranted temporary relief.
This decision temporarily suspends Mr. Amewu’s access to official post-parliamentary privileges and marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over electoral representation for the Hohoe Constituency and the SALL areas.
