Supreme Court shuts down Oppong Nkrumah's bid to halt vacation trials

The Supreme Court has dismissed an injunction application filed by Ofoase-Ayirebi Member of Parliament,Kojo Oppong Nkrumah seeking to suspend proceedings pending the final determination of a case challenging the constitutionality of a warrant allowing some High Court judges to conduct criminal trials during the legal vacation.

Oppong Nkrumah, represented by private legal practitioner Frank Davies, asked the apex court to suspend the operation of the warrant issued by the Chief Justice.

Supreme Court to rule on injunction against legal vacation sittings on August 21

The warrant allows selected High Court judges to continue hearing criminal trials during the legal vacation, which runs from August 1 to September 30, 2026.

The applicant’s legal team argued that the injunction was necessary to preserve the status quo while the court considers the broader constitutional questions surrounding the Chief Justice’s decision.

Justice Gabriel Pwamang, who sat as a single judge of the Supreme Court, dismissed the interlocutory injunction application on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The application therefore raised questions about the exercise of discretionary powers by the Chief Justice and the extent to which those powers must conform to the 1992 Constitution.

The Supreme Court’s dismissal means the warrant remains in operation while the substantive constitutional challenge proceeds.

The ruling means the affected courts can continue sitting under administrative warrants issued by Chief Justice.

JKB/VPO

GoldBod had no role in 2024 gold sale losses - Sammy Gyamfi