The Supreme Court has set June 23 to deliver judgment in the case in which the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) is challenging the Electoral Commission’s decision to exclude the existing voter’s ID as proof in compiling a new register.
Prior, to the adjournment, the parties were given ten minutes each to advance their arguments.
EIB’s Court correspondent Muntalla Inusah reports that in court today Lawyer for the NDC abandoned relief 1 saying it will no longer rely on, and same was struck out as abandoned.
“ A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 45(a) of the 1992 Constitution, 2nd Defendant (EC) 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.”
On NDC Lawyer
The apex court observed that the lawyer for NDC, Edudzi Tamaklo granted an interview to Journalist Paul Adom Okyere on the subject matter before the court.
In his response, he said that the interview was granted in late May but the court said, the case was filed in March and so he needed not to grant interview as counsel in the matter.
The court described his action as grossly disrespectful to the court. He then apologized to the court.
Apologize to us
The Supreme Court said the languages used by the Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame in his addresses to the court were unacceptable. The Chief Justice said, when the panel gave the order, it appears the deputy AG was unhappy.
The court demanded him to apologize. He subsequently apologized to the court
Background
The NDC instituted the action through the chambers of the former Deputy Attorney General in the Mahama administration, Dr. Dominic Aryine, (Ayine and Felli Law Office) seeking among others “a true and proper interpretation of Article 45(a) of the 1992 Constitution, on whether the EC 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”.
The opposition party was also seeking a declaration on whether the EC “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”.
The NDC additionally was seeking “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”.
