The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ seeking to disqualify two members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from holding public office and party positions concurrently.

The two main defendants, NDC Chairman for Efutu, Lawrence Lamptey and Chief Technical Officer at the Ghana Highways Authority, Ernestina Yawson who is an administrative officer with the Swedru Senior High School were dragged to court in a writ filed by a citizen, Kwadjoga Adra.

Represented by Efutu MP Alexander Afenyo Markins, the plaintiff argued that the holding of partisan positions is a violation  of the Civil Service Act, which forbids civil servants from holding political offices while in office.

But the case was dismissed by a seven-member Supreme Court Panel.

The court said the two defendants were not civil servants and could go ahead to contest for any position in any political party in the country.  

Effectively, the ruling okays employees of Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to do partisan politics.

Celebrating the court’s verdict as a victory for rule of law, the Efutu NDC Chairman  said the plaintiff had “wasted” everybody’s time on what he believes was a non-issue.

“We should have even fined him for wasting our time” he said.

More soon.