–BY Issah Olegor
In a significant legal development in the ongoing controversy over previous representation in the Hohoe Constituency, the Court of Appeal in Koforidua has granted an interlocutory injunction against John Peter Amewu, restraining him from holding himself out as Member of Parliament.
The court also barred the Speaker of Parliament from processing or paying any entitlements due Amewu as a former MP, pending the outcome of an appeal brought by residents of the SALL traditional areas.
The legal action, spearheaded by Professor Margaret Kweku and other petitioners from the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) areas, seeks to challenge the legitimacy of Amewu’s election to Parliament in 2020.
The SALL areas, though constitutionally part of the newly created Guan District, were excluded from voting in the parliamentary elections — a move that has drawn sharp criticism and spurred years of legal and political agitation.
The interlocutory application, filed on December 23, 2024, followed the July 29, 2024 dismissal of the substantive election petition by the Ho High Court.
That court, presided over by Justice Owoahene Acheampong, ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to determine the matter, prompting the petitioners to file a Notice of Appeal two days later.
In court, Tsatsu Tsikata argued on behalf of the appellants, stressing the need for justice and fairness.
He urged the three-member panel to prevent any further recognition or remuneration of Amewu as a Member of Parliament while the appeal remains unresolved.
Counsel for Amewu, Kofitse, countered that his client had acted in good faith and should not be penalized, instead attributing any misdirection to the Electoral Commission, which he claimed misled Amewu into believing he was validly elected.
The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Bright Mensah, ruled in favour of the petitioners, declaring the application meritorious.
He was supported on the panel by Justices Noble Nkrumah and Hafisata Amaleboba.
This latest ruling adds another layer to the protracted legal and constitutional battle over the SALL representation, which has fueled national debate about electoral justice and the rights of disenfranchised communities.
The appeal, once heard, could have far-reaching implications for parliamentary representation and electoral administration in Ghana.
