Supreme Court adjourns ruling in Minority leader's case

The Supreme Court today adjourned to June 10, its ruling in a case in which counsel for Mr J.H. Mensah, Minority leader in parliament, has raised an objection to the jurisdiction of the court to hear a writ challenging his client's eligibility as a parliamentarian. The court, made up of Mr Justice Charles F. Hayfron-Benjamin (presiding), Mr Justice A.K.B. Ampiah, Mr Justice F. Y. Kpegah, Mr Justice George Acquah and Mr Justice William Atuguba, had on March 18 adjourned to today to give the ruling. The court on that day asked counsel for Mr Mensah, Nana Akufo Addo, to reply to some portions of the written submissions by Mr Kwaku Baah, attorney for Mr Michael Yeboah of Sunyani who filed a writ against Mr Mensah's eligibility as a parliamentarian. Mr. Yeboah claims that the minority leader had not resided in his constituency for a total of less than five years as stated in the constitution. When the case came up for hearing, Nana Akuffo Addo raised a preliminary objection on the grounds that the plaintiff should file the petition at a High Court and not at the Supreme Court. Replying, Mr Baah mantained that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter and asked that the preliminary objection be dismissed.

The Supreme Court today adjourned to June 10, its ruling in a case in which counsel for Mr J.H. Mensah, Minority leader in parliament, has raised an objection to the jurisdiction of the court to hear a writ challenging his client's eligibility as a parliamentarian. The court, made up of Mr Justice Charles F. Hayfron-Benjamin (presiding), Mr Justice A.K.B. Ampiah, Mr Justice F. Y. Kpegah, Mr Justice George Acquah and Mr Justice William Atuguba, had on March 18 adjourned to today to give the ruling. The court on that day asked counsel for Mr Mensah, Nana Akufo Addo, to reply to some portions of the written submissions by Mr Kwaku Baah, attorney for Mr Michael Yeboah of Sunyani who filed a writ against Mr Mensah's eligibility as a parliamentarian. Mr. Yeboah claims that the minority leader had not resided in his constituency for a total of less than five years as stated in the constitution. When the case came up for hearing, Nana Akuffo Addo raised a preliminary objection on the grounds that the plaintiff should file the petition at a High Court and not at the Supreme Court. Replying, Mr Baah mantained that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter and asked that the preliminary objection be dismissed.