A judge of the Supreme Court, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkonoo clapped back at Mr Tsatsu Tsikata in the Supreme Court on Monday, 4 January 2020, when the opposition party lawyer demanded that Justice Clemence Honyenuga recuse himself from the panel of five judges hearing an ongoing case concerning Energy Minister John-Peter Amewu’s victory in the Hohoe parliamentary race in the recently-held 7 December 2020 polls, on grounds that the judge was friends with the MP-elect.
The apex court overruled the objection filed by Mr Tsatsu Tsikata.
The 5-member panel of Justices presided over by Justice Yaw Appau, in its ruling, said the instant application before it was challenging the high court’s jurisdiction and “the interest of Peter Amewu is too remotely connected” to the case.
The other Justices on the panel are Samuel Marful-Sau and Amadu Tanko.
Mr Tsikata argued that Justice Hoenyenuga had a personal relationship with Mr Amewu, thus, the need, in his estimation, for the judge to recuse himself from the case.
He cited a similar case in which Mr Victor Owusu raised a likelihood of bias against CJ Apaloo in the past.
Mr Tsikata raised concerns of conflict of interest with the empanelling of Justice Honyenuga.
The judge, however, insisted he had no relations with Mr Amewu and was, therefore, not going to recuse himself.
Justice Torkonoo then asked Mr Tsikata whether or not she, too, should recuse herself from the case because she was friends with him (Tsikata) and his family and has shared several meals in his home over the years.
“I have had several meals in your house, including kenkey and fish. So, should I also recuse myself on the basis that I am friends with your family?” she asked in open court.
In a rebuttal, Mr Tsikata said Justice Torkonoo’s example was not related in any way to the facts he had presented to the court seeking Justice Honyenuga’s recusal from hearing the case.
The court started hearing the case Monday, 4 January 2020.
It was filed by the State, challenging an interim injunction of the Ho High Court on the gazetting of Mr Amewu as MP-elect.
The court is expected to give a verdict today, Tuesday, 5 January 2020.