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Electoral Commission sued over voters' register

According to Ramadan, the current register which has names of people who registered with the National Health Insurance card is flawed.

Abu Ramadan

The former National Youth organizer of the Peoples National Convention, Abu Ramadan and Evans Nimako have sued the Electoral Commission and also prayed the Supreme Court to declare the 2012 voters register null and void.

The two, in a writ filed Tuesday, pleaded with the court to set aside "the 2012 voters' register and compel the electoral commission to compile a fresh voters’ register before any new public election or referendum is conducted in this country".

His suit comes at a time of a raging national debate about whether or not Ghana should compile a new voter’s register or just clean and maintain the current one.

A five member panel was put together by the Electoral Commission to consider all proposals regarding the debate. The committee is yet to present its report to the Electoral Commission.

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Below are what Mr Ramadan seeks the court to do:

1. A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 45(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 (hereinafter, the “Constitution”) the mandate of the Electoral Commission of Ghana to compile the register of voters implies a duty to compile, fair and transparent register.

2. A declaration that the 2012 Voters Register which contains the names of persons who have not established qualification to be registered is inconsistent with Article 42 and 45 (a) and therefore unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.

3. An order setting aside the 2012 Voters Register and compelling the Electoral Commission to compile fresh Voters Register before any new public election or referendum is conducted in this country.

Meanwhile, members of the Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) have called on the Electoral Commission to speak on the way forward with regards to compiling a new voters' register ahead of the 2016 general elections.

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According to the pressure group, "The unreasonable deliberate delays and dithering on the part of the Commission is a dangerous practice."

In a statement signed by the Convener David Asante, it said, "We wish to remind the EC of Ghana that the destiny of Ghana in 2016 and beyond is in their hands and all we are asking the commission to do as a matter of urgency is to Speak Now, for Ghana is waiting attentively to hear her voice on the way forward for a credible voter register."

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