Supreme Court sets May 5 for verdict on electoral register suit

The Supreme Court will on May 5, deliver its verdict in the case in which the Electoral Commission (EC) is being challenged over the validity of the current Voters’ Register.

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).

The Plaintiffs are Abu Ramadan, a former Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention and Mr Evans Nimako a private businessman who have sued the EC over the validity of the current Voters’ Register.

At today’s sitting, Mr Thaddeus Sory who represented the EC and representatives of the AG relied on their statements of case and affidavits.

However before fixing the date for judgment, Mr Justice Victor Jones Dotse asked Mr. Sory whether the EC had a database of the types of identification cards used in the 2012 Voter registration as well as 2014 limited registration exercise.

The seven member panel included the Chief Justice Georgina T Wood, presiding, Dotse, Anin Yeboah, Sulley Gbadegbe, Baffoe-Bonnie, Akamba and Benin.

Mr. Sory after consultation with Mrs. Charlotte Osei, the EC Chairman and Mr. Sulley Amadu, EC Deputy Chairman in Charge of Operations, said a database existed however, the commission would not be able get the type of Identities used for the registration.

He said the EC could procure that information if the Commission went through the manual used for the registration adding that EC had over millions of such identities.

Nana Asante Bediatuo who represented the plaintiffs rebutted that it had earlier on consulted the EC and he was informed that the Commission did not have that database on those who used Passports, NHIS cards and Drivers License in the 2012 registration and the 2014 Limited Registration Exercise.

In a related development, the Court threw out an application for joinder filed by Mr. Bernard Mornah, PNC National Chairman to the suit. The SC ruled that the application for joinder was without merit hence dismissed it.

Dr Raymond Atugubah who represented Mr. Mornah argued that the SC had the power to remove the names of the Plaintiffs and substitute same with a Political Party.

However Nana Bediatuo and Mr. Sory were of the opinion that the joinder was just to delay proceedings.

The plaintiffs are invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to declare the Register null and void.

They are also requesting for an order, which would set aside the 2012 Voters’ Register and also to compel the EC to compile fresh voters’ register before any fresh election could be conducted.

According to the plaintiffs, the current register contained names of unqualified persons, which was inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic.