‘The courts must be fair in deciding what critical matters should be heard expeditiously’ — Franklin Cudjoe

Franklin Cudjoe, the Founding President of IMANI Africa, has weighed in on the debate surrounding the listing of cases for hearing by the Supreme Court.

The policy expert advised on March 27 via Facebook that courts in the country should impartially choose cases to be heard quickly.

“The courts must be fair in deciding what critical matters of state should be heard, even expeditiously,” wrote the IMANI boss.

Background:
While Mr. Cudjoe did not provide any contest, his remarks come amid controversy over the Supreme Court's decision to hear a case challenging the recent ministerial reshuffle, despite it being filed two weeks later than a case against the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill.

The reshuffle case, filed by opposition NDC MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamakpor, was heard today even though Richard Dela Sky's challenge to the anti-LGBTQ bill was submitted two weeks earlier—a move the bill’s lead sponsor, Sam George, deemed a “judicial thuggery”.

This has fueled suspicions from the NDC that the court is "manipulated to aid Akufo-Addo" win in his impasse with Parliament over the ministerial approval and anti-LGBTQ bill.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin had halted the approval of the ministerial nominees until the Dafeamekpor’s case is determined.

It was after the President cited the court case challenging the anti-gay bill’s constitutionality to stop the bill from being sent by Parliament for his signature.

Meanwhile, at the hearing, the Supreme Court dismissed Dafeamakpor's injunction application against Parliament as "frivolous and an abuse of court process."