Attorney General Responds to Alban Bagbin Claims of Suit at the Supreme Court Preventing Him From Continuing With the Vetting of Ministerial Nominees

In response to Speaker Alban Bagbin’s statement regarding the Parliament’s decision to halt the approval process for ministerial nominees, the Attorney-General has issued a detailed response clarifying the legal status of the situation.

The Attorney-General, in a letter dated March 21, 2024, addressed to Speaker Bagbin, highlighted several key points regarding the legal proceedings surrounding the issue. The letter noted that there is an ongoing injunction motion seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of ministerial nominees, filed by Mr. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Member of Parliament for South Dayi.

The Attorney-General pointed out that Mr. Dafeamekpor’s action consists only of a bare writ of summons, with no statement of case in support filed as mandated by the Supreme Court Rules, 1996. Therefore, the suit is not properly constituted, and according to Rule 46(3) of C. I. 16, such an action may be struck out if a statement of case is not filed within fourteen days.

Additionally, the Attorney-General noted that Mr. Dafeamekpor has not filed an application for interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of ministerial nominees. As a result, there is nothing before the Supreme Court that could constitute a restraint on Parliament from proceeding with the approval process as mandated by the Constitution.