<<Print>>

The Supreme Court has adjourned to May 23, the case involving the national chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey over his purchase of a state bungalow. The court is expected to determine whether Mr. Obetsebi had a right under the constitution to purchase the bungalow in which he lived while serving as a minister of state under the erstwhile Kufuor administration. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information and Dr. Omane Boamah deputy Sports Minister dragged the NPP chairman to court accusing him of abusing his office in his attempt to purchase a government building at the No 2 Mungo Street in the Ridge residential area. The court presided over by Justice William Atuguba earlier on dismissed Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey�s preliminary objection which argued that the court had no mandate to hear a case brought before it by the applicants in respect of his right to purchase a government bungalow. The nine-member court, in a unanimous decision, argued that, although, the case passed for a land case, which falls within the domain of the High Court, the plaintiffs were not laying claim to the property in question but rather seeking an interpretation of several provisions of the Constitution regarding the ownership of state property, including Articles 20 (5) and 20 (6) of the 1992 Constitution. Other members of the court include Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo, Mr Justice S. A. Brobbey, Mrs Justice Sophia Adinyira, Mrs Justice Rose Owusu, Mr Justice Jones Dotse, Mr Justice Baffoe Bonnie, Mr Justice B. T. Aryeetey and Mrs Justice Vida Akoto Bamfo.