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High Court invalidated Assin North MP election last year - Gertrude Torkornoo

High Court invalidated Assin North MP election last year - Gertrude Torkornoo

The High Court invalidated the Assin North parliamentary election last year, Chief Justice Nionee Gertrude Torkonoo has said.

She said that after she was asked by Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson whether the order given to the Parliament to remove the name of the Assin Noth MP James Gyakye Qiayson meant invalidation of the elections.

In answer, she said “That invalidation was done by the high court last year.”

During the vetting, Bawku Central Lawmaker Mahama Ayariga told her that the Minority side on the Appointments Committee of Parliament had a challenge in partaking in her vetting because she was part of the seven-member Justices of the Supreme Court that ordered Parliament to remove the name of Assin North Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson from the records without giving reasoning.

Mahama Ayariga said they had a challenge with the apex court’s refusal to give the reasoning for the orders.

Mr Ayariga said “The Minority had a reservation because you participated in the decision involving James Quayson.

You did not give a reason for your judgment so as we speak we don’t know the basis on which the court arrived at that conclusion.

There is uncertainty among us as MPs knowing that our Supreme Court is Consticionl Court that should guide us as a country as to how to run public affairs.

[But] we have reached a negotiated position with our colleagues.

when we finish today when the SC gives the reason we will have another opportunity to now assess on the basis of the quality of the reasoning of the court and then we can take the debate.”

Prior to Mr Ayariga’s comment, the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forosn said that they were waiting for the written judgment of the apex court on the Assin North Lammaker.

Dr Forsion said the Minority wanted to screen her, especially on that order given to Parliament but first needed to have copies of the judgment.

“We will be focusing on her judgment on her running from the time she went to the Supreme court,” the Ajumako Enyan Essiam lawmaker said during the Appointments Committee sitting on Friday to screen the nominee.

But answering them, Madam Torkornor said “The Supreme Court is not a court unless there are five or seven people.

“My answer is that I have given hundreds of judgments from High Court till now, it would be a great relief if I am assessed on my work as a whole, not the judgments of the Supreme Court.”

She added “Seven people are working together that is why very often, almost invariably every judgment that is given the reasons come out long after the orders.”

 

 

 

 

Original Story on: 3News
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