In the news this week...

From Justice Kpegah’s failed attempt to scorn the legal credentials of Akufo-Addo at the High Court to the assessment of the Ghanaian media by former Volta River Authority boss, Charles Wereko-Brobbey, here are some topical issues that made headlines in the week.

Court dismisses Kpegah’s suit:

A High Court in Accra on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by Francis Yaonasu Kpegah, a former Supreme Court judge against the legitimacy of Nana Akufo- Addo as a lawyer.

Justice Kpegah had claimed, Nana Akufo-Addo, is holding himself out as a lawyer when the evidence available to him proves otherwise. Justice Kpegah promised to appeal against the ruling.

He added: “My lawyers will review the ruling and file the necessary applications. I am fighting this thing to the last because I know I have a good case legally. I will have a meeting with my lawyers.”

The court presided over by Justice Cecelia Sowah described the suit as frivolous.

Wereko-Brobby tackles Ghanaian media:

Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby delivering a lecture in Accra to mark the World Press Freedom Day on Friday minced no words by stating that Ghana’s media landscape is like a jungle, where professionalism has been thrown to the dogs.

In his estimation, the proliferation of the media has not had the expected impact, stressing that the only way the media can insulate itself from political control, is to hand over management responsibility entirely to the National Media Commission.

The event was organised by the Ghana Journalists Association. His assessment of the media triggered several discussions among some respected media practitioners.

Mornah thrives in court:

General Secretary of the People’s National Convention Bernard Mornah on Tuesday won a writ he filed at the Supreme Court seeking to nullify portions of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 74.

Rule 71B of C.I. 74 provides that the decision of the Supreme Court in respect of a petition presented to challenge the election of a president cannot be reviewed.

Lawyers for Mr Mornah argued that: "To the extent that Rule 71B of C.I. 74 seeks to extinguish the constitutional right in article 133 of the Constitution to seek a review of a decision of the Supreme Court in Presidential election petitions, same is unconstitutional, null and void, and of no effect.

The five member panel that sat on the matter upheld the lawyers’ argument. It also ruled that the Supreme Court sitting on public holidays will be unconstitutional.

Tsatsu’s cross-examination:

The lead counsel for the third respondent in the ongoing presidential election petition, Tsatsu Tsikata on Thursday continued his cross-examination of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, witness for the petitioners in the ongoing election petition case at the Supreme Court.

Tsikata entered his third day of cross-examining the witness, having already had two grueling encounters in previous days.

If he is able to complete his cross-examination on Monday, May 6, 2013, counsel for the petitioners, Philip Addison, can exercise the option of re-examining his witness or will close his case after which the first respondent, represented by Tony Lithur, will be asked to open his case, with Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the governing NDC sitting-in for President John Mahama.

Thursday’s sitting was day ten of the substantive hearing of the Supreme Court case, in which the 2012 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, and two others, are challenging the results of the 2012 elections which was declared in favour of the incumbent president John Mahama.

Mahama commissions Bui Dam:

President John Mahama on Friday commissioned the Bui hydro power project in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The dam will augment energy supply in the country by generating a total amount of 404 megawatts (MG) of power, officials have said.

The $800 million project started in April 2008 and is being financed by the governments of Ghana (10%) and China (90%). So far, $700 million has been spent on the project.

Kufuor slams gov’t over Bui Dam:

Former President Kufuor on Friday expressed grave displeasure that he was not invited for the commissioning ceremony on Asempa FM in Accra.

Mr. Kufuor recalled the difficulty his administration went through with the Chinese government just to get funding for the project and wondered whether all that hustle was worth it.

In response, head of communications at the energy ministry said the ceremony was not a formal commissioning but “just a way of telling people that the project has gotten somewhere”.

Edward Bawa, therefore, downplayed the significance of the event, and promised that Mr Kufuor would be invited for the formal commissioning of the project, which is expected to take place in December.