The High Court in Ho has ordered Peter Amewu, the second respondent in the ongoing SALL election denial case, to testify on Tuesday, 2 July 2024.

This decision followed an announcement by Mr. Amewu’s counsel, who stated that his client had been unable to attend court due to a national assignment.

Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, counsel for the petitioners, argued that Mr. Amewu’s absence undermined the court’s authority.

"The behaviour of the 2nd Respondent is undermining the authority of the Court," counsel for the petitioners asserted, highlighting the necessity for adherence to the court’s schedule.

The case has experienced significant delays, partly due to accusations that Mr. Amewu evaded court bailiffs for nearly a year, with his associates allegedly inflicting violence on the bailiffs.

This prolonged evasion has added to the frustration of both the petitioners and the court.

The court agreed to include two additional issues in the trial, as suggested by Mr. Amewu’s counsel.

These issues question the court’s jurisdiction to declare the enactment of C.I. 128 unconstitutional and whether the Electoral Commission had the authority to place the SALL communities under the Jasikan District.

The inclusion of these issues followed extensive legal debate between the counsels for both parties.

Lawyer Tsikata argued that the existing issues set by the court already covered these concerns, while Mr. Amewu’s counsel countered that the court lacked the jurisdiction to declare C.I. 128 unconstitutional, citing Article 130(1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution.