NDC sues EC over new voter’s register

Ghana’s opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sued the Electoral Commission (EC) over the latter’s decision to compile new voter’s register ahead of the December 7, 2020 general elections.

The NDC is seeking nine reliefs in the suit filed at the Supreme Court. They are as follows:

Read below details of the suit

                            IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUDICATURE
                                IN THE SUPREME COURT OF GHANA
                                    ACCRA – A.D. 2020

SUIT NO:
WRIT TO INVOKE THE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT

BETWEEN:

PLAINTIFF

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
H/NO 12, ADAMA STREET, ADABRAKA
ACCRA

-AND-

1. ATTORNEY GENERAL DEFENDANTS
   ATTORNEY GENERAL DEPARTMENT
   MINISTRIES, ACCRA
2. ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA
   NEAR RIDGE HOSPITAL
   ACCRA                       

TO:

ATTORNEY GENERAL
ELECTORAL COMMISSION

IN THE NAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, you are hereby commanded within fourteen (14) days after the service on you of the statement of the Plaintiff’s case inclusive of the day of service, that you are to file or cause to be filed for you a statement of the Defendant’s case in an action at the suit of:

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS of Accra:

The nature of the reliefs sought is as follows:

1. A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 45(a) of the 1992 Constitution, 2^nd Defendant has the constitutional power to, and can, compile a register of voters only once, and thereafter revise it periodically, as may be determined by law. Accordingly, 2^nd Defendant can only revise the existing register of voters, and lacks the power to prepare a fresh register of voters, for the conduct of the December 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE

1. A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, specifically article 51 read conjointly with article 42 of the Constitution, the power of the 2^nd Defendant to compile and review the voters’ register must be exercised subject to respect for and the protection of the right to vote;

1. A declaration that, upon a true and proper interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, particularly article 42, upon the registration of and issuance of a voter identification card to a person, that person has an accrued right to vote which cannot be divested in an arbitrary and capricious manner;

1. A declaration that, upon a true and proper interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, particularly Article 42 of the Constitution, all existing voter identification cards duly issued by the 2^nd Defendant to registered voters are valid for purposes of identifying such persons in the exercise of their right to vote;

1. A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of the Constitution, specifically Article 42, the 2^nd Defendant’s purported amendment of Regulation 1 subregulation 3 of the  Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016 (C.I 91) through the Public Elections (Registration of Voters)(Amendment) Regulations, 2020 to exclude existing voter identification cards as proof of identification to enable a person apply for registration as a voter is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever;

1. A declaration that the 2^nd Defendant, in purporting to exercise its powers pursuant to article 51 of the 1992 Constitution to exclude the existing voter identification cards from the documents required as proof of identification to enable a person register as a voter without any justification is arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable and contrary to article 296 of the 1992 Constitution;

1. A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of the Constitution specifically Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, proof of identification for registration as a voter should not be limited by the provisions of Public Elections (Registration of Voters) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020;

1. An order directed at the 2^nd Defendant to include all existing voter identification cards duly issued by the 2^nd Defendant as one of the documents serving as proof of identification for registration as a voter for the purposes of public elections;

1. Any other order or orders as this Honorable Court would deem fit in the circumstances.

The Capacity in which the Plaintiff is bringing this action is as follows:

The Plaintiff brings this action in its capacity as a citizen of Ghana to seek the interpretation and/or enforcement of the provisions of the Constitution under Articles 2(1) (b) and 130(1) (a) thereof.

Download a copy below:

Source: Daily Mail GH