NATIONAL MEDIA COMMISSION vs. ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2000]DLSC498

Date	2000-01-26
Suit No.
Citation No.	[2000]DLSC498

EDWARD WIREDU JSC

BAMFORD-ADDO JSC

AMPIAH JSC

ADJABENG JSC

ACQUAH JSC

ATUGUBA JSC

AKUFFO JSC

PETER ALA ADJETEY (WITH HIM NUTIFAFA KUENYEHIA AND FRANK ABAIDOO) FOR THE PLAINTIFFS.

AFRIFA GYASI CHIEF STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANT

[2000]DLSC498
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">NATIONAL MEDIA COMMISSION<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">ATTORNEY-GENERAL<o:p></o:p>[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1999-2000] 2 GLR 577<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:right;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">DATE: 26
JANUARY 2000<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>PETER ALA ADJETEY (WITH HIM NUTIFAFA KUENYEHIA AND FRANK ABAIDOO)
FOR THE PLAINTIFFS.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

AFRIFA GYASI, CHIEF STATE
ATTORNEY, FOR THE DEFENDANT<o:p></o:p>

EDWARD WIREDU, BAMFORD-ADDO,
AMPIAH, ADJABENG, ACQUAH, ATUGUBA AND AKUFFO JJSC<o:p></o:p>

</div>JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>Edward Wiredu
JSC. I have been privileged to read beforehand the learned opinion of
my brother Acquah JSC which is about to be read.<o:p></o:p>In his characteristic delivery, he has critically examined, ably
analysed and beautifully nutshelled the facts of this case, and has arrived,
rightly in my view, at a conclusion which tallies with my own stand and
understanding of the law in this dispute. I therefore write to concur in both
his reasoning and conclusion that on the face of the plain and unambiguous
language of article 168 of the Constitution, 1992 the authority to appoint the
chairman and other members of the governing bodies of public corporations
managing the state-owned media, including their chief executives who are also
members of such governing bodies, vests in the National Media Commission acting
in consultation with the President. I also endorse his conclusion that it is
the commission which is vested with the right to exercise the powers set out in
article 297(a) of the Constitution, 1992 in relation to such governing bodies,
ie the chairmen, chief executives and other members of the governing bodies of
public corporations managing the state-owned media.<o:p></o:p>I therefore hold in my judgment that any appointments made
regarding any such individuals in contravention of the above view is void and
is devoid of any legal effect.<o:p></o:p>Bamford-Addo
JSC. I have been privileged to read in advance the opinion of my
learned brother Acquah JSC which covers all aspects of this matter. I agree
with him and I have nothing useful to add.<o:p></o:p>Ampiah JSC. I have read the leading opinion of my learned brother Acquah JSC
and agree with him. I have nothing useful to add.<o:p></o:p>Adjabeng JSC. I have also read the opinion of my learned brother, Acquah JSC
which he is about to read and I agree with his reasoning and conclusion.
Indeed, the language used in the constitutional provisions in issue, especially
article 168 of the Constitution, 1992, are so plain that I find no need to say
anything more than my learned brother has so admirably done. I agree with him
and my other brothers and sisters that the plaintiffs are entitled to the
declarations sought by them.<o:p></o:p>Acquah JSC. My lords, the claim of the National Media Commission against the
Attorney-General is for a declaration that:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“(1) On a true and proper construction of the Constitution, 1992
of Ghana, and specifically, of articles 168 and 195(1) thereof the power to
appoint the chairmen and other members of the governing bodies of public
corporations managing the-state owned media including the chief executives of
such public corporation ‘members of the governing bodies of such, public
corporations’, is vested exclusively in the National Media Commission acting in
consultation with the President and not in the President, either acting alone
or in consultation with any other person or authority. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(2) The exercise by the President of the power to appoint the
chief executives of public corporations managing the state owned media, who are
also members of the governing bodies of such public corporations, whether alone
or in consultation with any other person or authority is inconsistent with and
in contravention of the letter and spirit of articles 162, 167(c) and 168 of
the Constitution, 1992 of the Republic of Ghana, and accordingly all
appointments made by the President in purported exercise of such power are
null, void and of no effect.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-s</main>