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The former National Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan who filed a suit to restrain the Electoral Commission (EC) from organizing the Abuakwa North by-election and the limited registration exercise says he is not disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss his applicaion for an injunction.

Abu Ramadan in his application argued that it will be “contemptuous” for the ECto conduct the by-election in Abuakwa using the current voters’ register, seeing he is challenging the credibility of same in court. 

But the court, presided over by Chief Justice Georgina Wood and assisted by a 7- member panel dismissed the case without giving reasons for its decision.

In dismissing the application for interlocutory injunction, the Chief Justice and members of the panel however admonished the EC to engage more with relevant stakeholders in the election to ensure a more transparent process ahead of the November polls.

Commenting on the court’s ruling, Abu Ramadan argued that though the court threw out his application, it agreed with him in the larger extent when it ordered the EC to clean up the register.

“…you could see that the court had agreed with us in its larger extent that the electoral register is a problematic one because the court was emphatic that Ghana needs to have a free, fair transparent election and a peaceful election in 2016 and for that matter called on the electoral commission to go back and listen to political parties and stop being stubborn or naughty and sit down and be ready to listen to stakeholders so that we can have a credible register. “

“…Myself and our legal team we have not been disappointed in the ruling, we rather see it as a victory for us…We’re happy with the court’s ruling“ Abu Ramadan said.

He further asked the Court to take a look at the substantive case as soon as possible in order not to have any negative implication on the general elections.

Analysis

Abu Ramadan in his substantive case is asking the Supreme Court to declare the current voters register null and void.

The much anticipated November polls might be called off or postponed if the court rules rules in his favour.