Bill on cases disposal at Supreme Court before House

Accra, Oct. 19, GNA - A bill to amend the constitution to accelerate disposal of cases before the Superior Courts of judicature and five other articles was laid in the house on Tuesday.

Known as the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, it affects articles dealing with the status of regional tribunals, retirement age of public officers, gender equality, appointment of district chief executives, presiding members and freehold interest in land by non-Ghanaians.

A memorandum accompanying the bill said it seeks to provide clearly that regional tribunals have the same jurisdiction as the High Court in criminal matters unless otherwise specifically provided in the constitution.

''It is intended to leave no doubt that a chairman of a regional tribunal sit as a high court judge...it will enable the regional tribunals to relieve the High Court of some of the numerous criminal cases ... and by so doing accelerate the disposal of cases, both civil and criminal, at that level.

The bill also seeks to amend Article 199 on the retirement age of public officers to enable parliament to provide an Act of Parliament for earlier retirement of officers in some public services where the nature of work of the service concern so justifies.

On appointment of district chief executives, the bill proposes that a presidential nominee is approved by a simple majority instead of a two-thirds majority.

"It is, however, not considered that removal of the chief executive should be necessarily by simple majority therefore the status quo is maintained for that". The bill proposes likewise that presiding members should also be elected by simple majority.