The seven questions in lawyer Akoto Ampaw's letter to EC
A private legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw has written a letter to the Electoral Commission asking seven pertinent questions in respect to the upcoming general elections.
Dated November 3 and addressed specifically at the commission's chairperson, Charlotte Osei, he writes as a private citizen seeking information in exercise of "my fundamental human right under Article 21 (1) (f) of the Constitution of the Republic which guarantees “every person” the right to information, subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society."
The EC has over the week repeatedly assured Ghanaians that the elections will come off in December despite going to the Supreme Court to quash a ruling by the high court which essentially makes it possible for disqualified presidential candidates to get another chance at getting onto the ballot paper.
Here are the seven questions Mr Ampaw is hoping Mrs Osei answers to bring clarity to the process by next Wednesday (November 9, 2016).
1. In the Commission’s considered judgment, and all things being equal, when does the Commission project that the current spate of law suits involving it and those presidential aspirants, whom the Commission has disqualified for stated reasons, will end to enable the Commission carry out the ballot for positions of the presidential candidates on the ballot paper?
2. When in the Commission’s considered judgment will the ballot papers for the presidential candidates for the 2016 elections be printed and ready for the December 2016 elections?
3. Are the other election materials, such as the Statement of Poll for the Office of Member of Parliament and Statement of Poll for the Office of President (popularly referred to as “pink sheets”); the Certificate to be Endorsed on Writ (Form EL1 B for parliamentary elections) and the Certificate to be Endorsed on Writ (Form EL 1 B for presidential elections); and the Parliamentary Elections – Results Collation Form (Form EL 23A) and the Presidential Elections-Result Collation Form (Form EL 23B) already printed out and ready for use for the December 2016 elections?
4. If they are already printed out, when were they so printed?
5. If these materials have not already been printed out, when, in the judgment of the Commission, will they be printed out and be in the custody of the Commission to ensure the conduct of general elections on 7th December 2016?
6. Will these election materials be printed in Ghana or abroad?
7. Finally, when, in the judgment of the Commission, would be the last date that it should have concluded the current law suits it is involved in as a party and should have printed all relevant elections materials, as set out above, to ensure that it is able to conduct and supervise the December 2016 presidential elections?