The Electoral Commission has been given the go ahead with the compilation of a new voters register ahead of the general elections in December.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, had sued the EC and sought to stop it from going ahead with the compilation of the new voters register.
The opposition party had argued that the current EC lacks the mandate to compile a new voters register.
But the Supreme Court disagreed and asked the election regulation body to go ahead with the compilation of the new voters roll.
Below is the judgement delivered by the apex court:
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUDICATURE, THE SUPREME COURT (CIVIL DIVISION) SITTING IN ACCRA ON THURSDAY THE 25TH DAY OF JUNE, 2020.
CORAM: YEBOAH C.J (PRESIDING), DOTSE, BAFFOE-BONNIE, GBADEGBE, MARFUL-SAU, AMEGATCHER AND KOTEY, JJ.S.C
CONSOLIDATED WRITS
SUIT NO. J1/9/2020
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS – PLAINTIFF
VRS
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA – DEFENDANTS
AND
SUIT NO. J1/12/2020
MARK TAKYI-BANSON
H/NO. BN34, BREMAN KOKOSO – PLAINTIFF
ASIKUMA-ODOBEN-BRAKWA
VRS
ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL – DEFENDANTS
Parties:-
Johnson Asiedu Nketia representing the Plaintiff in JI/9/2020 as General Secretary.
1st Defendant absent in J1/9/2020.
Samuel Tettey representing the 2nd Defendant in J1/9/2020 and 1st Defendant in J1/12/2020.
Plaintiff in J1/12/2020 present.
Counsel
Godwin Tamakloe for the Plaintiff in J1/9/2020 with him Seth Nyaaba.
Godfred Yeboah Dame, Deputy Attorney General for the 1st Defendant in J1/9/2020 and 2nd Defendant in J1/12/2020 with him Clarence Kuwornu, Chief State Attorney.
Justin Amenuvor for the 2nd Defendant in J1/9/2020 and 1st Defendant in J1/12/2020 with him Hope Agboado.
Cosmas Anpengnuo for the Plaintiff in J1/12/2020.
BY COURT:-
As per the attached orders the decision of the Court is unanimous.
SUIT NO. J1/9/2020
By a unanimous decision the following orders are hereby made:-
RELIEF ONE
Already struck out as withdrawn.
RELIEF TWO
This relief is granted subject to the fact that all eligible voters must make themselves available for registration as directed by the Electoral Commission pursuant to Public Elections (Registration of Voters) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 C. I. 126.
RELIEF THREE
This relief is granted subject to the Voter Registration card issued to an eligible voter under the prevailing constitutional Instrument C. I. 126.
RELIEF FOUR
Dismissed
RELIEF FIVE
Dismissed
RELIEF SIX
Is dismissed
We however reiterate the decision of this court in Abu Ramadan & Mimako (No.2) v Electoral Commission & Attorney-General (No.2) [2015-2016] 1 SCGLR 1 where the court per Benin JSC stated:
“If the law provides for alternative ways of performing the task, the discretion is vested in the actor in deciding within the limits imposed by article 296 of the Constitution as to which one of them would best suit the task on hand.”
The court continued by re-emphasising the fact that the Electoral Commission in exercising their discretion in the discharge of their constitutional mandate in cleaning the voters Register should be deemed as authorised to be acting within the law and the regulations therein, and cannot be faulted even if it is considered that there is a more efficient mode or method available.
RELIEF SEVEN
It is dismissed subject to the provisions contained in C. I. 126.
RELIEF EIGHT
It is refused and we also reiterate our decision in Abu Ramadan (No.2) supra where this court held that the Electoral Commission in performing their mandate under Article 45 of the Constitution 1992 cannot be compelled to act in a particular manner unless there is clear evidence that they have acted unconstitutionally.
SUIT NO. J1/12/2020
RELIEF ONE
Is dismissed
RELIEF TWO
Is dismissed
RELIEF THREE
Is dismissed and we reiterate this court’s decision in Abu Ramadan (No.2) already referred to supra in Suit No. J1/9/2020.
RELIEF FOUR
Is dismissed and we reiterate our position in Abu Ramadan (No. 2) supra.
RELIEF FIVE
Is dismissed
We reiterate this court’s decision in Abu Ramadan (No.2) where the court stated that:-
“In the exercise of its original jurisdiction, it was not permissible for it to substitute its own decisions for that of the body of persons exercising the discretion conferred on it by the Constitution unless they act contrary to it. The court further emphasized that, that was necessary to keep the court itself within its proper limits in order to give effect to the supremacy of the law.”
RELIEF SIX
Is dismissed as same has already been dealt with in relief three supra.
CONSEQUENTIAL ORDERS
In the exercise of the powers conferred on us under Article 2 (2) of the Constitution 1992, we hereby make the following orders:-
It is hereby ordered that all stakeholders and the Ghanaian eligible voters are directed to comply with Articles 42 and 45 of the Constitution and the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 C.I. 126 as regulated by the Electoral Commission i.e. 2nd Defendants in Suit No. J1/9/2020 and 1st Defendants in J1/12/2020 in carrying out their constitutional mandate in the compilation of a new voters register.
By this decision, the Electoral Commission i.e. 2nd Defendants in Suit No. J1/9/2020 and 1st Defendants in Suit No. J1/12/2020 are hereby directed to commence the compilation of the voter registration exercise as scheduled.
By these decisions and, by virtue of Article 130 (2) of the Constitution any court in which same or similar action is pending or yet to be filed shall apply the decision rendered by the Supreme Court in these consolidated suits.
Reasons will be filed on or before the 15th of July 2020.
SGD. ANIN YEBOAH
CHIEF JUSTICE
SGD. J. V. M. DOTSE
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
SGD. P. BAFFOE-BONNIE
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
SGD. N. S. GBADEGBE
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
SGD. S. K. MARFUL-SAU
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
SGD. N. A. AMEGATCHER
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
SGD. PROF. N. A. KOTEY
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
