
Audio By Carbonatix
The Supreme Court has in a unanimous decision ruled that courts are to sit on weekends and public holidays to deal with issues that affect personal liberty.This brings to an end the age-long practice where persons are arrested and kept beyond 48 hours because weekends and holidays are not counted. The seven-member panel presided over by outgoing Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo held that 48 hours means 48 hours. Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu in September 2016 dragged the Attorney General to the Apex court demanding a declaration that portions of the Holidays Act that bars the courts from dealing with cases that affect personal liberty are unconstitutional. The Chief Justice presided over the panel comprising Justices Julius Ansah, Anin Yeboah (Chief Justice Designate), Baffoe Bonnie, Sule Gbadegbe, A. A Benin, and Prof. Ashie Kotey. This is her last decision as a Justice of the Highest court of the land.Reading the judgement, she stated that the portions of the Holidays Act preventing such access to justice are unconstitutional.The court then rectified the provisions to exempt courts dealing with personal liberty cases as part of those who can work on holidays. The court ordered that the Chief Justice must within six months designate each Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly with the required number of courts as may be needed to sit on weekends and holidays to deal with cases affecting personal liberty.The court also ordered that the IGP sensitizes police prosecutors about this decision within six months.The director of the Judicial Training Institute is also to do the same for Judges and Magistrates.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
UK Wireless Festival sponsorship withdrawals highlight high cost of Kanye West controversy for global brands
2 minutes -
CAF President to pay working visit to Senegal over AFCON title saga
10 minutes -
GPL 2025/26: Samartex end winless run with victory over Kotoko
12 minutes -
Afreximbank to avail US$10bn under its Gulf Crisis Response Programme to shield African, CARICOM economies from Middle East conflict
17 minutes -
NPP behind every monumental agenda in Ghana – Miracles Aboagye
28 minutes -
Ho Airport not a misplaced priority — GACL Board Chair
29 minutes -
Nationwide sensitisation of haulage truck drivers ahead of Axle Load Enforcement
30 minutes -
Vice President backs community tourism at Vodza Regatta 2026
33 minutes -
Tree Crops Development Authority says media reports on rubber exports are misleading, demands apology
40 minutes -
Kotoko suffer shock 2-1 defeat to Samartex in Kumasi
50 minutes -
Scrap sanitation levy amid fuel price hikes — Miracles Aboagye
51 minutes -
Rapper Offset injured in shooting near Florida casino, officials say
59 minutes -
Sporting CP vs Arsenal Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, coaches’ thoughts
1 hour -
Real Madrid vs Bayern München Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, coaches’ thoughts
1 hour -
CIB Ghana Post-MPC policy seminar urges action to turn macroeconomic stability into jobs
1 hour