SC Ruling On Domelevo A “Repudiation” Of Executive Action; Ahiagbah Holds
The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has called the ruling delivered by the apex court on Domelevo a rejection of executive action.
He described it as a “repudiation” of executive action resulting from the “power judicial review”.
This was contained in Tweet he made after the ruling against an action by President Akufo-Addo to direct the country’s former Auditor-General, Daniel Domelovo, to go on an accumulated leave of 123 working days.
Mr Ahiagbah believes the ruling doesn’t affect just the case at hand but all executive actions in the past.
He posted a copy of a similar directive given by late and former President John Evan Atta Mills to Mr Edward Dua Agyeman, the then Auditor General, directing him to proceed on an accumulated leave in 2009.
He reacted, “The ruling in the Domelevo’s case is a repudiation of executive action including this action under late President John Atta Mills. The power of judicial review.”
The ruling in the Domelevo's case is a repudiation of executive action including this action under late President John Atta Mills. The power of judicial review. #JoyNews #JoySMS #CitiCBS #CitiNewsroom #3NewsGH #gmg #Ghana pic.twitter.com/si9vtThRzv
— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) May 31, 2023
Background
The Jubilee House in its letter in 2020 directing the Mr Domelovo to go on leave referenced Sections 20 (1) and 31 of the Labour Act, 2003 (651) for the decision.
“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has directed Mr Yaw Domelevo, the Auditor-General, to take his accumulated leave of 123 working days, according to records available to the Presidency, with effect from Wednesday, 1st July 2020,” a part of the letter is quoted to have said.
Following this, nine Civil Society Organisations (CSO) dragged President Akufo-Addo to the Supreme Court over the decision.
They included the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana); Ghana Integrity Initiative, (GII); Citizen Movement Ghana; Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP); Parliamentary Network Africa; Penplusbyte; Media Foundation for West Africa; SEND Ghana; and One Ghana Movement.
In a ruling on Wednesday, May 31, the SC declared the President’s decision null and void.
