A case filed by the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, against some members of Parliament (MPs), who held ministerial positions in the erstwhile Mahama Administration, has failed to fly.
The case was dismissed by the Supreme Court (SC) on the grounds that the application lacked merit and that Abronye DC did not invoke proper jurisdiction of the court.
The seven-member panel, presided over by Justice Nene Abayateye Ofoe Amegatcher, did not award cost to Abronye, because they do not want cost to bar the public from seeking constitutional interpretations.
However, the lords used the occasion to advice counsel against running to the court without critical analysis of cases brought to them by their clients.
Meanwhile, the applicant was seeking, among others, an order of the court on the MPs – Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, Alhassan Azong, Fifi Fiave Kwetey, Eric Opoku, Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, Mark Owen Woyongo, Comfort Doyoe, Cudjoe Ghansah and Aquinas Tawiah Quansah to refund the double salaries into the Consolidated Fund.
Abronye DC was looking forward to securing a declaration that the defendants in receiving double salaries as MPs and ministers or deputy ministers from the Consolidated Fund between 2009 and 2016 was inconsistent with Article 98 of the Constitution.
The failed writ was further seeking a declaration that, per Article 98 of the Constitution, the MPs were not entitled to double salaries without the express permission of the Speaker of Parliament acting on the recommendation of a Committee of Parliament, and ought to be declared unconstitutional.
The applicant who suffered a fatal blow yesterday also wanted a declaration that the MPs, former ministers and deputy ministers in drawing double salaries between 2009 and 2016 from the Consolidated Fund was in violation of Article 78(3) of the Constitution.
Furthermore, the Bono NPP Chairman wanted an order of the court directing the MPs, former ministers and deputy ministers to refund the double salaries they received between 2009 and 2016.
