SAMUEL ATTA-MENSAH AND PROFESSOR STEPHEN KWAKU ASARE vs. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND ANOTHER [2015]DLSC3035

SAMUEL ATTA-MENSAH AND PROFESSOR STEPHEN KWAKU ASARE vs. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AN... [2015]DLSC3035

Date	2015-12-03
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J1/4/2015 & J1/20/2015
Citation No.	[2015]DLSC3035

AKUFFO (MS) CJ PRESIDING

ANSAH JSC

ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC

DOTSE JSC

YEBOAH JSC

GBADEGBE JSC

AKOTO BAMFO (MRS) JSC

BENIN JSC

AKAMBA JSC

YAW OPPONG ESQ. WITH HIM CHRIS OSEI- YEBOAH NII APPATU –PLANGE AND LAWRENCE AKAPAME FOR SAMUEL ATTA- MENSAH.

ERIC DELANYO ALIFO ESQ. FOR PROF. STEPHEN KWEKU ASARE. HON. DR. DOMINIC AKURITINGA AYINE ESQ. DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE DEFENDANTS IN BOTH CASES.

[2015]DLSC3035
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SAMUEL
ATTA-MENSAH AND PROFESSOR STEPHEN KWAKU ASARE<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND
ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<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">

CIVIL
APPEAL NO. J1/4/2015 &amp; J1/20/2015&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: 3RD DECEMBER, 2015<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>YAW
OPPONG ESQ. WITH HIM CHRIS OSEI- YEBOAH, NII APPATU –PLANGE AND LAWRENCE
AKAPAME FOR SAMUEL ATTA- MENSAH.<o:p></o:p>ERIC
DELANYO ALIFO ESQ. FOR PROF. STEPHEN KWEKU ASARE.<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">

HON.
DR. DOMINIC AKURITINGA AYINE ESQ. DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE DEFENDANTS IN
BOTH CASES.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <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" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">AKUFFO
(MS) CJ PRESIDING, ANSAH JSC, ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC, DOTSE JSC, YEBOAH JSC,
GBADEGBE JSC, AKOTO&nbsp; BAMFO (MRS) JSC,
BENIN JSC, AND AKAMBA JSC&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>GBADEGBE
JSC:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>The questions for our decision in the consolidated
actions herein by which our interpretive and enforcement jurisdiction is sought
arises out of the refusal by the Speaker of Parliament (hereinafter
conveniently referred to as the Speaker), to subscribe to the oath of the
President when both the President and the Vice- President were out of the
country on November 5, 2014 and November 7, 2014 respectively. Subsequently,
the plaintiffs in the consolidated actions, at different times caused the writs
herein numbered as J1/4/2015 and J1/20/2015 to issue seeking reliefs, which
concern the said refusal. At the hearing of the respective actions, in view of
the fact that they raised common questions for our decision and arise from the
same transaction, we made an order consolidating them for trial. In making the
order of consolidation, we were guided by Order 31 rule 2 of the High Court
(Civil Procedure Rules) of 2004, (CI 47) by which it is provided:<o:p></o:p>……“Where
two or more causes or matters are pending in the same Court and it appears to
the Court<o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That some
common question of law or fact arises in both or all of them, or<o:p></o:p>(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the
rights to relief claimed are in respect of or arise out of the same transaction
or series of transactions or<o:p></o:p>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That for
some other reason it is desirable to make an order under this rule……”<o:p></o:p>The said common questions of law are the true
meaning of article 60 (11) and (12) of the 1992 Constitution. Beyond this
question, we have to decide other questions, which though turning on the said
refusal are not common to both actions. One such question is whether the
Speaker has violated his oath of office; the other being whether he is a
necessary and proper party in suit number J1/4/2015.As the questions for
determination arise from the same act, we are obliged to dispose of the common
questions of law or rights to relief claimed in both actions at the same time.
See:&nbsp; (1) Daws v Daily Sket</main>