{"id":34438,"date":"2014-07-25T06:00:45","date_gmt":"2014-07-25T06:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=34438"},"modified":"2014-07-25T13:49:21","modified_gmt":"2014-07-25T13:49:21","slug":"prepare-for-unforeseen-setbacks-lawyer-tells-ec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=34438","title":{"rendered":"Prepare for unforeseen setbacks – Lawyer tells EC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nana Asante Bediatuo, lead counsel for Peoples National Convention\u2019s (PNC) Abu Ramadan has advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to prepare for unforeseen circumstances in undertaking<\/span> their duties.<\/p>\n

This, he said, is to prevent the Commission from re-scheduling the undertaking of their key duties ahead of general elections in Ghana.<\/p>\n

He chastised the EC for waiting until too late to work under strict timelines because \u201cif there is a challenge to some aspects of your work, you cannot turn around and complain\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The National Youth Organizer of the PNC, Abu Ramadan filed a suit against the EC praying the court to stop the Commission from accepting the National Health Insurance cards to register prospective voters ahead of the 2016 general elections.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered the Commission to suspend the planned registration, which was scheduled to begin on Friday, July 25, 2014.<\/p>\n

The suspension is to hold until the final determination of the suit.<\/p>\n

The EC has however<\/span> indicated the Supreme Court ruling will delay the exercise which is a crucial for the 2016 general elections.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Eyewitness News,<\/strong> Nana Asante Bedietuo admitted that the injunction on the registration exercise will disrupt the activities of the EC which is on a strict timeline.<\/p>\n

But he was quick to add that due to such unforeseen circumstances, the EC should have arraigned its affairs \u201cin such a way that there is always some room to maneuver.\u201d<\/p>\n

He described his client\u2019s case as a \u201csimple one\u201d which seeks to prevent unqualified individuals as stipulated by the constitution to be registered to vote in Ghana\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n

Abu Ramadan\u2019s counsel maintained that if the delay in undertaking the voter\u2019s registration exercise is the price to pay for a clean register<\/span>, \u201cthen it\u2019s a price well paid.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said \u00a0despite the order from the Supreme Court, it would have been unwise for the Electoral Commission (EC) to have gone ahead with the registration of new voters.<\/p>\n

He also mentioned that there are reports of the non-availability of funds at the disposal of the Commission to carry out the registration exercise and the district assembly elections.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026<\/span>and<\/span> so whatever be the case, it certainly wouldn\u2019t be a good idea if they go ahead and do the exercise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
\nFollow @osamidan<\/a>
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