The Coalition Of Election Observers (CODEO) says the Supreme Court’s ruling on the district assembly elections will force other state institutions to conduct due diligence in doing their work.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Electoral Commission to suspend the district assembly election scheduled for March 3, 2015.
The 7-member panel of judges led by Justice William Atuguba on Friday ruled in favour of one Benjamin Eyi Mensah, a fisherman who challenged the EC’sdecison that prevented him filing nomination forms to contest in the Eyipeh Electoral Area, before the maturation of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 85.
The Court and declared the elections as unconstitutional.
Speaking to Citi News a member of CODEO, PNK Abrampah Mensah said the ruling will ensure the EC and other agencies work to prevent litigation ahead of the 2016 elections.
“I think it is good that the Supreme Court has come out with this verdict so that in subsequent actions ahead of, especially, of 2016, that will come out of fresh litigation that will span over seven months, the Supreme Court wouldn’t like to hear some of these things. So it’s putting every institution on its toes. “
He added that, though the ruling is unfair to contestants and others involved, it is the best saying “I think that even though this is going to have a great impact on all of us, everybody who is part of the process, it is good that we put some of these things into perspective.”
The Electoral Commission has been criticized for failing to prevent suspension of the elections.
Alex Afenyo-Markin, the Lawyer for Eyi Mensah, has said the EC could have avoided the inconvenience had it paid attention.
It is believed that cancellation of the district assembly elections will cost the government several thousands of cedis.
The Electoral Commission is expected to re-run the elections later in 2015.
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By: Nana Ama Agyemang Asante/citifmonline.com/Ghana