BRITISH AIRWAYS AND ANOTHER vs. ATTORNEY ¬GENERAL [1997]DLSC9958

Date	1997-02-26
Suit No.	[1997-98] 1 GLR 55-75
Citation No.	[1997]DLSC9958

BAMFORD-ADDO JSC

AMPIAH JSC

KPEGAH JSC

ACQUAH JSC

A TUGUBA JSC

J B QUASHIE-IDUN FOR THE PLAINTIFFS-APPLICANTS.

J C AMONOO-MONNEY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS FOR THE REPUBLIC-RESPONDENT

[1997]DLSC9958
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >BRITISH AIRWAYS AND
ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ATTORNEY GENERAL<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

[1997-98]
1 GLR 55-75&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 26TH
FEBRUARY, 1997<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>J B QUASHIE-IDUN&nbsp;FOR
THE PLAINTIFFS-APPLICANTS.<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

J&nbsp;C&nbsp;AMONOO-MONNEY,&nbsp;DIRECTOR
OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, FOR THE REPUBLIC-RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

BAMFORD-ADDO
JSC, AMPIAH JSC, KPEGAH JSC, ACQUAH JSC, A TUGUBA JSC<o:p></o:p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 1.2pt 0.0001pt 0.25pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">&nbsp;<div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-left: 0.25pt; margin-right: 1.2pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; border: none; padding: 0cm;">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0.25pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Bamford-Addo JSc.&nbsp;The plaintiffs invoked the original
jurisdiction of this court under articles&nbsp;2(1)(a)&nbsp;and 130 of
the Constitution, 1992 for the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.45pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.8pt; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">"(a) A declaration that the
provisions of the External Companies and Diplomatic Missions (Acquisition or
Rental of Immovable Property) Law, 1986 (PNDCL 150) are inconsistent with the
provisions of articles 17(1) and (2), 18(2), 36(4) and 125(3) of the Constitution,
1992 of the Republic of Ghana and consequently void for all legal and
practical purposes as from 7 January 1993.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.2pt; margin-left: 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -26.6pt; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">(b) A declaration that the prosecution
by the defendant of the plaintiffs in the Circuit Tribunal, Accra under the
said PNDCL 150 by summons issued on 27 of November 1995, with reference No RO
97/95, is unlawful<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.2pt; margin-left: 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -26.6pt; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">(c) An order directed at the defendant
herein requiring him to discontinue the said prosecution (reference No 96/95)
in the Circuit Tribunal, Accra and to take no further steps towards prosecuting
the plaintiffs under PNDCL 150."<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.2pt; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The question is whether the plaintiffs
have a legitimate course of action in the case. [pg 59]<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.95pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The Supreme Court in article&nbsp;130(1)(a)&nbsp;of the
Constitution, 1992 has exclusive original jurisdiction in all matters relating
to the enforcement or interpretation of the Constitution. Article 2(1) of the
Constitution, 1992 also provides:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 50.15pt; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">"2. (1) A person
who alleges that-<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.2pt; margin-left: 100.8pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.75pt; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">(a) an enactment or anything contained
in or done, under the authority o that or any other enactment;&nbsp;or<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 83.05pt; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">(b)&nbsp;any act or omission of any person;