Dafeamekpor’s suit does not stop Parliament from approving new ministers – Attorney-General

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame has clarified that there are no legal barriers preventing Parliament from deliberating on the nomination of new ministers and deputy ministers.

The AG's statement follows remarks made by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Wednesday, indicating that an interlocutory injunction filed at the Supreme Court by Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, had halted Parliament's ability to vet and approve the new appointees.

Contrary to this assertion, the Attorney-General's office released a statement on Thursday, asserting that there is no such injunction filed by the South Dayi MP aimed at restraining the Parliament from conducting the vetting and approval process.

According to the Attorney General's statement, the lawsuit filed by Mr. Dafeamekpor only consists of a bare writ of summons without a supporting statement of case, rendering it improperly constituted under the Supreme Court Rules 1996 (C. I. 16).

Moreover, the Attorney-General highlighted that no application for an interlocutory injunction has been filed by the plaintiff, seeking to halt the Speaker's proceedings or any other interim relief.

“The plaintiff has not filed an application for interlocutory injunction “Seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President… or indeed, any other interlocutory relief.”

“Thus there is nothing before the Supreme Court which may constitute a restraint or fetter Parliament from proceeding with the approval of ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees presented to Parliament by the President in accordance with article 78(1) and 79(1) of the Constitution,” the AG's statement said.