By Beatrice Oppon
The Supreme Court has dismissed a Suit challenging the payment of double salaries to some former Ministers and Deputy Ministers from the Consolidated Fund between 2009 and 2016. It held that the Court’s jurisdiction was not properly invoked and the suit lacked merit.
The Court said although the writ was frivolous, it was reluctant to award cost because of its own decision not to do so in Constitutional matters so as not to discourage people from seeking interpretation from the court.
The Court however urged that professionalism must be the bedrock of every application filed before it.
The Plaintiff, Kwame Baffoe popularly known as Abronye DC, argued that the former Ministers and Deputy Ministers who were also serving MPs at the time, drew double salaries in contravention of Article 98 of the Constitution and was seeking an order of the Court for the said MPs to refund the double they received.
They are Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, former Minister of Petroleum and MP for Ellembelle Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, former Sports Minister and MP for Odododiodoo Nii Lante Vanderpuye and former Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Ketu South Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
The rest are Alhassan Azong, Eric Opoku, Rashid Pelpuo, Mark Owen Woyongo, Comfort Doyoe Ghansah, and Aquinas Tawiah Quansah.
Attorney-General and the Controller and Accountant General were also joined to the suit. The Attorney-General raised a preliminary objection in relation to jurisdiction.
Assistant State Attorney Reginald Nii Odoi argued that the jurisdiction of the Court was not properly invoked.
He said the nature of the reliefs sought by the plaintiff did not raise any interpretation or enforcement action.
A second suit also filed by Abronye DC was adjourned to December 14 for judgement. That suit is challenging the Constitutionality of paying salaries to spouses of the President and Vice President and is seeking the Supreme Court to reverse that decision.
His suit was triggered by Parliament’s approval of the recommendations of the Professor Yaa Ntiamoah-Baidu led Committee on emoluments for Article 71 office holders for which Spouses of the President and Vice President will receive the same monthly salaries as Cabinet Ministers.
