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'Too early to hold EC for contempt' - law lecturer

On May 5, the Supreme Court ordered the EC to clean the voters' register of minors, dead persons and people who registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme cards (NHIS)

 

Dr. Poku Adusei, who is also a member of the New Patriotic Party, advised Ramadan to rather seek clarification on the Supreme Court ruling ordering the EC to clean the voters register.

But the EC in a statement said it has no power to delete the names of people who registered with NHIS cards but said it was committed to implementing the court's ruling.

Pressure group Let My Vote Count Alliance responded to the EC saying the commission wants to plunge the country into chaos.

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Managing editor of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper backed LMVCA's position on Newsfile today.

According to him, if the EC goes into the election with a register that is "not reasonably accurate", there will be litigation over declaration of the results.

Adusei, who was contributing on Citi Fm's news analysis programme 'The Big Issues,' said, “ It is too early for Abu Ramadan to hold the EC for contempt.”

“Well, if I am advising him, he won’t go for contempt; it’s too early to go for contempt. …The standard of proof, because it’s a quasi-criminal issue, is very high. …It’s equivalent to prove beyond reasonable doubt…, so, you don’t think that going to convict the seven commission members is what will be the answer”.“If I am the one advising him, a quick application for the court to state what [it] actually said in [its] judgement [will be appropriate].”

“I believe in their own hearts and minds, the judges, they know what they meant in this judgement, they know. So, they will tell you…,” he added.

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Ramadan threatened to cite all seven commission members for contempt.

His lawyer, Nana Asante Badiatou noted that there is no ambiguity about the judgement but lawyer Ace Ankomah holds a different view.

He earlier this week asked both parties to seek further clarification on the ruling.

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