The Supreme Court will on July 24 begin hearing the case in which Abu Ramadan, the National Youth Organizer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), and another are seeking an injunction against the Electoral Commission over the voter’s registration exercise.
The Court has further directed parties to file their responses to the statement of cases before it within 24 hours. The parties include the Attorney General and the Electoral Commission (EC).
On July 24, the Supreme Court (SC) would consider whether or not to consolidate similar petition filed by a Mr. Kwasi Danso-Acheampong, a legal practitioner.
The Supreme Court has granted a motion on notice for extension for the EC to file its statement of case in respect of the plaintiffs’ writ.
In the case of Ramadan and Evans Nimako, both plaintiffs are seeking a true and proper interpretation of Article 42 of the Constitution in relation to the use of the National Health Insurance Card as a proof of qualification to register as a voter pursuant to the Public Elections.
The plaintiffs, both citizens of Ghana, are also seeking an order compelling the EC to strike off the names of persons who used the National Health ID card to register as voters in 2012 from the Register of Voters in Ghana.
They said the use of the National Health ID card as proof of qualification to register as a voter pursuant to CI 72 would be tantamount to application registering twice or more therefore it should be declared unconstitutional, void and of no effect.
The EC in May gave notice that it would embark on the revision of the voters’ register, which was used in the 2012 general elections and it would take nine days.
It said the revision would be a limited voter registration exercise intended to offer Ghanaians who have attained the voting age of 18 since the last registration in 2012 to register.
The registration was expected to start June 25 to August 3.
According to the EC among the documents required for the registration exercise are passport, National ID card a driving license, National Health Insurance card or voter ID card for persons who were registered voters before the replacement of voters register in 2012, the plaintiffs contended.
In addition, the EC said applicants who did not have any identification number would be required by the EC to produce two persons who are already voters to compete documents to guarantee their registration.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the opening of the rescheduled revision of the voters register from Friday 25th July to August 3, 2014.
