Supreme Court, Dr Opuni, Celebrities and other legal news

Supreme Court Dismisses “Celebrity” Case Against the FDA

June 19, 2024

The Supreme Court of Ghana has dismissed an application seeking the enforcement and original jurisdiction of the supreme court under Articles 2(1) and 130(1) of the 1992 constitution. 

Mark Darlington, the plaintiff sought to invalidate guideline 3.2.10 of the FDA which prohibit alcoholic beverage producers’ from using celebrities in advertisement.

In its judgement, the Supreme Court held that, guideline 3.2.10 of the FDA is reasonable and not excessive nor does it contravene Article 17 (1) (e), 2 of the 1992 constitution. 

Domestic Abusers can be denied Guns: US Supreme Court

June 20, 2024

In a 8 – 1 ruling, the US Supreme Court upheld a federal law forbidding domestic abusers from obtaining a gun. According to the court, the second Amendment permits the temporary disarming of individuals who pose threat to others. The ruling is a reversal of a federal appeals court ruling in New Orleans that invalidated a 1994 federal law denying firearms to people under domestic violence restraining orders.

The case involved Zackey Rahimi, who assaulted his girlfriend in 2019 in Arlington, Texas and shot a bystander who witnessed the incident. His girlfriend filed a restraining order and after being found for committing violence and the possibility of repeating it, a local judge issued a restraining order that suspended Rahimi’s gun license for two years.

Opuni’s trial Cannot start afresh: Supreme Court declares

20 June, 2024

The Supreme Court of Ghana presided by the Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo has upheld the decision by the Court of Appeal that, the trial of Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni and two others cannot start afresh. 

The Supreme Court held that, the Court of Appeal was right in holding that proceedings in Opuni’s trial must be adopted for his criminal  trial to proceed. 

The decision of the Appeal Court followed an appeal by the Attorney General challenging the decision of the high court presided by Justice Kwesi Anokye Gyimah to start the trial afresh as was the practice.