20. On 31st August and 5th September 2006, the Secretariat of the [African] Commission received the
submissions of the Respondent State by fax and mail, respectively.
21. At its 40th Ordinary Session held from 15th to 29th November 2006 in Banjul, The Gambia, the African
Commission considered this communication on admissibility.
Law
Admissibility
The Complainant's submission
22. In the case under consideration, the Complainant makes reference to several recourses to the domestic
courts for redress of the alleged violations of his rights, but gives no indication of the exhaustion of all
available domestic remedies, particularly in view of the alleged on-going violation. From the facts
presented, the alleged on-going violation of his rights involves an on-going trial, the legality of which he
challenges on the basis of the provisions of the Charter. He however failed to present evidence of the
conclusion of this trial, and or to prove that it has been unduly prolonged.
23. The Complainant contended that the continuation of his trial based on charges and in the manner that
offend the provisions of the African Charter would cause him irreparable damage, but without elaborating
how.
The Respondent State's submission
24. In its response in accordance with Rule 116 of the Rules of Procedure of the African Commission, the
Respondent State referred to the provisions of Article 56(5) of the African Charter which provides for the
exhaustion of local remedies as a requirement for the African Commission to rule on the admissibility of
communications, unless it is obvious that this procedure is unduly prolonged. It therefore submitted that
since the matter of the Complainant's communication is still pending in the High Court of Justice, Ghana,
with further unexplored rights of appeal to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Ghana, in accordance
with Articles 137
× (1) The Court of Appeal shall have jurisdiction throughout Ghana to hear and determine, subject to the
provisions of this Constitution, appeals from a judgement, decree or order of the High Court and Regional
Tribunals and such other appellate jurisdiction as may be conferred on it by this Constitution or any other
law. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, an appeal shall lie as of right from a judgement,
decree or order of the High Court and a Regional Tribunal to the Court of Appeal. (3) For the purposes of
hearing and determining an appeal within its jurisdiction and the amendment, execution or the enforcement
of a judgment or order made on any appeal, and, for the purposes of any other authority expressly or by
necessary implication given to the Court of Appeal by this Constitution or any other law, the Court of Appeal
shall have all the powers, authority and jurisdiction vested in the court from which the appeal is brought.
and 131
× (1) An appeal shall lie from a judgement of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court- (a) as of right in a
civil or criminal cause or matter in respect of which an appeal has been brought to the Court of Appeal from
a judgment of the High Court or a Regional Tribunal in the exercise of its original jurisdiction; or (b) with the
leave of the Court of Appeal, in any other cause or matter, where the case was commenced in a court
lower than the High Court or a Regional Tribunal and where the Court of Appeal is satisfied that the case
involves a substantial question of law or is in the public interest. (2) Notwithstanding clause (1) of this
article, the Supreme Court may entertain application for special leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in
any cause or matter, civil or criminal, and may grant leave accordingly. (3) The Supreme Court shall have
appellate jurisdiction, to the exclusion of the Court of Appeal, to determine matters relating to the conviction
or otherwise of a person for high treason or treason by the High Court. (4) An appeal from a decision of the
Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs shall lie to the Supreme Court with the leave of that
Judicial Committee or the Supreme Court.
respectively of the Constitution of Ghana, the communication should be declared inadmissible by the
[African] Commission.
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