A-G Applies For Review Extension

The Attorney-General’s Department is positioning itself for a final showdown before the Supreme Court, where it is seeking a review on the ruling that the Fast Track High Court was unconstitutional. Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, told “The Evening News” in Accra on Monday that her office had applied to the Supreme Court for an extension of time within which to apply for a supplementary statement of case.

The application for review was filed on 1 March 2002, barely 24 hours after the ruling. She said the application for extension was necessary because at the time of filing for the review of the case, on 1 March 2002, the Supreme Court had not given its reason for the verdict. The reasons of the various judges were given on 20 March 2002.

According to Mrs Akuffo, the 1 March application for a review could not argue very well because the court was yet to give its reasons. But, under the rules, she said, the applicant is supposed to fully argue on the matter to convince the court to reverse its decision. Ms Akuffo stated, that the A-G’s office applied to the Judicial Registrar and received copies of the ruling last week.

Upon critical study of the reasons given, the Deputy Attorney-General said her outfit could find enough grounds to argue its case out. She said the application for an extension of time was filed just before the Easter holidays because the one-month period within which to respond after the ruling would have elapsed after the Easter and emphasized that the application for an extension of time was permissible in law. She said the Supreme Court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the application.

It is recalled that, following the Supreme Court’s 5-4 majority ruling that the Fast Track High Court was unconstitutional, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Nana Akufo Addo announced that he would seek for a review of the ruling. He told a news conference that he respected the verdict of the court, but disagreed with it and would seek for a review.