Five political parties, have filed an interlocutory injunction restraining the Electoral Commission (EC) from undertaking the limited registration exercise scheduled to begin on September 12, 2023.
The action follows EC’s reluctance to heed to several appeals against the decision to limit the exercise to its District offices nationwide.
The five parties, NDC, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), All People’s Congress, Liberal Party of Ghana and the Great Consolidated Popular Party have severally called for the expansion to electoral areas as has been in the past.
The parties are of the view that EC’s decision to restrict the centers of voter registration to their district offices has the potential to deprive many eligible voters of their right to be registered as voters and to vote in public elections.
A statement signed by Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the NDC
The parties say this is just one of the series of actions to be rolled out to compel the EC to conduct the impending limited voter registration exercise at the electoral area level to give all eligible voters access to the process in line with the letter and spirit of Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, Regulation 2(1)(2) of C.I 91 and the EC’s own time-tested practices.
It described as unusual, attempts to scuttle their action.
Part o the statement read… and I quote …
In an unusual twist, Plaintiffs have been informed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court that the due date for the Application for Interlocutory Injunction to be moved will be given on Monday upon the expressed instructions of the Chief Justice of the Republic.
Yesterday, former President John Mahama who rallied Ghanaians to partake in the exercise also appealed to the EC to consider its decision.
He reiterated similar concerns by the Paramount Chief of the Goaso Traditional Area in the Ahafo region, Nana Akwasi Bosompra I, about a week ago, citing the cost involved in transporting prospective voters and guarantors, in several deprived communities to far away district capitals.
Nana Akwasi Bosompra I, who was addressing an event to mark 15th anniversary of his enstoolment, said…. “What is Jean Mensa [EC Chairperson] doing, has she been to Ahafo before? Does she know the town that follows Esumira. Does she know the town after Kasapin, so is Jean Mensa saying that all these people, if they want to write their names, should have three people and travel to Goaso? Is she going to pay for their fare?”
“She should be careful not to bring any confusion into this country…, I’m pleading with her, she should change that rule and decentralise the process. – he warned.
In the meantime, the writ has been duly served on the Electoral Commission.
