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The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned its members to, with immediate effect; desist from criticising decisions of the Supreme Court in the ongoing legal battle over the Electoral Commission (EC)’s electoral roll.

National Organiser of NDC, Kofi Adams, said the party believes in building state institutions and does not see unfair and unnecessary criticisms as means of achieving that end.

“We have indicated that we believe in building state institutions and whiles it is fair and right to criticise them when they go wrong such criticisms must not be done to impugn the integrity of the institution,” he said.

In a decision that has taken keepers of legal documents by surprise, the Supreme Court in a case brought before it by a former National Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan and Evans Nimako over the electoral roll ordered the EC to take steps to rid the register of “undesirable” names.

It directed the EC to delete ghost names, names of minors and persons who registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card.

This directive of the apex court led to one of the fiercest legal debates in the country resulting in several interpretations of the ruling.

The EC had indicated the apex court did not direct it to delete the names of NHIS registrants backing it with portions of the ruling.

This was enough to court the displeasure of one of the plaintiffs, Abu Ramadan who went to the apex court again to seek proper clarification for its May 5 ruling.

Some leading members of the NDC have paddled their argument in defense of the EC.

A member of the NDC communication team, Abraham Amaliba had earlier tainted a Supreme Court judge, Justice Jones Dotse over his comment that sought to clarify the court’s ruling to the public.

Amaliba a private legal practitioner described Justice Dotse as a “political commentator” for his comments, an act which was condemned by the NDC.

Speaking to Joynews, Mr Adams said even though it is everyone’s right to criticise any institution in the country, it must be done to build those institutions and not to disparage their hard-won reputation.

“People are free to raise concerns, to criticise but that criticism must not and should not impugn the integrity of such an institution or members of the institution,” he said.

He revealed the NDC has laid out the processes through which anyone who disobeys this directive of the party would be sanctioned.

“If orders or statements are made by leadership and you go contrary to it and we feel that it has injured the institution as we have indicated we will refer you to the appropriate structures and the recommendation will be acted on,” he added.