Bagbin Blasts Supreme Court

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticized the Supreme Court for awarding high cost against people who seek interpretation of constitutional provisions. The Supreme Court on March 4 slapped a ?15 million cost against one Mr Charles Bo Amissah, who was seeking the interpretation of the constitutionality of charges preferred against certain public officials in the former NDC government.

Mr Amissah later discontinued the action saying that his decision was personal. Again the Supreme Court awarded a cost of ?10 million against Mr Tsatsu Tsikata in the famous unconstitutionality of the Fast Track Court case in which, the government sought a review and won.

Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin says such high costs would hamper the development of democracy and scare off would-be plaintiffs to the court.

He told the Ghana News Agency that people should have the courage to test the law and the provisions of the Constitution at the Supreme Court for the protection of their rights.

"It should be a healthy sign that those seeking the interpretation of the Constitution would have no inhibitions or fears about high cost the court would award against them. That would do a lot of good for our young democracy."