Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed disappointment in the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC), to go ahead with its limited registration exercise.
According to him, contrary to the time-honored practice of the Registrar of the Supreme Court giving dates for applications to be moved, the Registrar has, as of this afternoon, refused to give a date for the application for interlocutory injunction filed against the EC.
This, he indicated, is in relation to the Commission’s decision to limit the upcoming voter registration exercise to its district offices only.
“The EC starts the lopsided registration exercise tomorrow for which this process is being filed, and yet, we all know the famous mantra, ‘Justice delayed, is justice denied’.”
John Dramani Mahama
Mr Mahama noted that the writ and the injunction application were duly filed at the Registry of the Supreme Court on Thursday, 7th September 2023, at 2:50pm.
Following this, he explained that the Registrar informed the applicants’ representatives that they were awaiting the date to be given by the Chief Justice, who was outside the jurisdiction at the time.
“The Chief Justice returned and travelled to Cape Coast for the Bar Conference. As I write, the applicants’ representatives are still waiting at the registry of the Supreme Court.”
John Dramani Mahama
Describing the situation as unprecedented, the NDC flagbearer stated that the decision does not augur well for public confidence in the justice delivery system.
The former President recounted that in 2012, when a Ghanaian citizen decided to challenge the creation of the 45 new constituencies, the Supreme Court had a sole judge to decide the interlocutory injunction application in a timely manner.
Ningo-Prampram constituency’s Agenda 100,000 votes
Meanwhile, member of parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has called on residents in his constituency to participate in the Electoral Commission’s limited registration exercise.
He indicated that his team would be on the ground in the various areas to facilitate their registration.
“Have you just turned 18? Were you unavailable during the 2020 voter’s registration but are above the age of 18? Are you resident in the Ningo-Prampram Constituency?
“If your answers to the questions above are yes, you have a fantastic opportunity to get registered from tomorrow till the 2nd of October 2023.”
Sam Nartey George
Sam George underscored that the registration exercise offers the opportunity for Ningo-Prampram residents to be empowered to take a stand in the 2024 election.
He explained that the registration will afford them the right to vote against the “abysmal governance” of the NPP and ensure they entrust the affairs of State into a more capable hand.
Elsewhere, political Scientist and Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Kwasi Amakye-Boateng, has described the decision by the EC to restrict the upcoming limited voter registration exercise as an infringement on the fundamental right of Ghanaians who want to register and vote in a public election.
He indicated that the EC’s stance regarding the exercise is sending wrong signals that it was not there to serve the public interest.
To this end, he welcomed the decision by the five political parties, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to go to the Supreme Court to compel the EC to ensure that the registration takes place at the electoral areas where the people cast their votes and not only the EC district offices.
Furthermore, Dr Amakye-Boateng stated that the fact that the constitution mandated the EC as the only body to undertake the registration exercise for prospective voters did not mean that the individuals working there could decide to impose their will on the system.
“If you look at what is happening with the registration exercise, it is interesting because it looks like the EC has its own interest…”
Dr Kwasi Amakye-Boateng
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