The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has filed for a review of the decision to dismiss his application to halt the conduct of criminal trials by selected High Court judges during the legal vacation.
He is asking the Supreme Court to reverse the ruling delivered by Justice Pwamang, who sat on Friday, August 21, 2026, and rejected the interlocutory injunction application.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court earlier this month, challenging the decision by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to permit selected judges to sit during the vacation to hear criminal cases.
His substantive case argues that the arrangement raises constitutional questions, including concerns over equality before the law and the proper exercise of administrative discretion.
He subsequently applied for an interlocutory injunction to suspend the operation of the warrants until the Supreme Court had determined the substantive constitutional challenge, but the application was dismissed.
Prior to the review application, Oppong Nkrumah said that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would continue to use every possible means at its disposal to ensure that the selective application of laws is addressed.
In a post on his X page after the dismissal, he said, “Earlier this morning, the Supreme Court dismissed my injunction application in which I requested the apex court to order a halt to full trials at the High Courts while the Supreme Court is about to make a determination on my substantive writ challenging the constitutionality of conducting these full trials during the legal vacation.
“In his ruling, Justice Gabriel Pwamang said that while some cases are being treated differently and expeditiously, this would not amount to an infringement on the rights to equality before the law and the right to a fair trial.
“We have asked for a certified copy of the ruling to study and take advice. A date for the hearing of the substantive matter is yet to be fixed. We in the NPP believe that justice must not be selective and will continue to seek to have the selective application of laws addressed using the best means at our disposal.”
The Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, issued warrants to selected High Court judges to sit during the legal vacation, which runs from August 1 to September 30.
Lawyers for Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, led by Frank Davies, were asking the apex court to suspend the hearings pending the determination of the substantive suit, which is asking for answers to several constitutional matters.
In his ruling, Justice Gabriel Pwamang said the warrants issued are part of efforts for criminal cases to be heard expeditiously.
“The fact that the trial of accused persons facing criminal prosecution does not usually take place during the legal vacation ought not to be grounds for injuncting the CJ’s effort at ensuring a speedy hearing of cases such as galamsey and narcotics,” Justice Pwamang noted.
The judge also noted that justice will continue to be administered although some cases are being prioritized.
“The warrants issued by the CJ are part of efforts to provide an opportunity for more criminal cases to be heard expeditiously. The fact that some criminal cases are not being heard during the legal vacation doesn’t mean the administration of justice wouldn’t be advanced to some extent.”
Source:Fiilafmonline/3News
