The Supreme Court will today, Wednesday March 28, give it’s ruling in the case in which Mr Martin Amidu, former Deputy Attorney-General, is challenging the legality of certain presidential appointments without prior consultation with the Council of State.
After listening to submissions from counsel for both sides on February 13, the nine-member panel presided over by Mr Justice Emmanuel Wiredu, Acting Chief Justice, fixed March 28 for ruling.
In January this year, President John Agyekum Kufuor nominated Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, General Joshua Hamidu and Ms Elizabeth Ohene for appointment to ministerial positions.
Whilst Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey and Ms Ohene were nominated for the posts of Ministers of Presidential Affairs and Media Relations respectively, General Hamidu was to become National Security Adviser.
Challenging their nominations in a writ, Mr Amidu contended that, since those appointments were made without prior consultation with the Council of State, "it is a deliberate and gross violation of the Constitution and the Presidential Office Act 1993 (Act 463)."
Since this is a constitutional matter that required interpretation of the law, Mr Amidu joined the Attorney - General to the suit and, therefore, prayed the court to restrain the President and the four, from continuing to violate the Constitution.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Minister of Justice and Attorney - General, is representing the State with Mr Amidu representing himself.
