<<Print>>The Supreme Court will on May 5, deliver its verdict on a lawsuit in which a former National Youth Organizer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan, and one Evans Nimako, are seeking a declaration that the current electoral roll is not credible for the November polls. The court fixed the date after it had adopted the memorandum of issues agreed on by the plaintiffs, the EC and the Attorney General (AG).
PNC’s request dismissed
The seven-member panel of justices presided over by the Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Goergina Wood also dismissed a joinder application by the party to join the suit.
According to the panel, the application by the PNC lacked merit. The PNC, led by its National Chairman Bernard Mornah, applied to the court to be joined to the case as third plaintiffs indicating they were interested per their status as a political party in the country. The party further indicated in the application that any decision taken in the case would have an adverse effect on them hence their decision.
Ramadan’s suit
Abu Ramadan in the suit claims the voters’ register contains the names of persons who have not established qualification to be registered and therefore inconsistent with Article 45(a) of the Constitution thereby making same unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect. Abu Ramadan in the suit was seeking the following reliefs: A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 45(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 (hereinafter, the “Constitution”) the mandate of the Electoral Commission of Ghana to compile the register of voters implies a duty to compile, fair and transparent register. A declaration that the 2012 Voters Register which contains the names of persons who have not established qualification to be registered is inconsistent with Article 42 and 45 (a) and therefore unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.
An order setting aside the 2012 Voters Register and compelling the Electoral Commission to compile fresh Voters Register before any new public election or referendum is conducted in this country. The Supreme Court a year ago ruled that the National Health Insurance card (NHIS) does not qualify anyone to be registered as a voter. That suit was filed by Abu Ramadan.