According to the Deputy Chairperson of the EC in-charge of operations, Amadu Sulley, the Commission will soon commence printing the parliamentary ballot sheets for the various constituencies to allow electorates know the position of their respective candidates of choice.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VGSsRnuQUsG7pLhcLpM9g37VGIKttwJu”]Addressing the media in Kumasi yesterday [October 27], Sulley Amadu said the EC’s preparations for the parliamentary polls are still on course although some processes for the presidential elections has been halted due to a barrage of lawsuits.

“We did the balloting for parliamentary and the parties have taken their position and very soon after the commission has taken a decision we will go ahead to do the printing of the ballot papers and the notices of polls showing the candidates for each constituency,” he said.

‘EC saddled with numerous lawsuits’

The Electoral Commission has been inundated with a lot of lawsuits from some political parties and individuals challenging some decisions of the electoral body.

The cases have raised concerns of a possible disruption in the electoral calendar.

The cases being heard included those seeking the reinstatement of some disqualified aspirants in the upcoming presidential elections and those seeking an order to compel the EC to announce results of special voting on the same day it is held.

‘Election lawsuits: Judiciary up to the task – IDEG’

The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has said it is optimistic Ghana’s judiciary can expedite action on the various election-related lawsuits to ensure the country holds its general elections in December as expected.

The Executive Director of IDEG, Dr Emmanuel Akwetey in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday [October 25] said the judiciary is up to the task and able to deliver on their mandate with the various measures it has adopted to fast-track the court processes.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to her, judges designated to sit on such cases have been instructed to deal with them expeditiously.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Hfe20L0qxlXNdQ0sKXWsFTN4Ej8d9DhH”]The Electoral Commission is currently faced with multiple law suits from some political parties and individuals raising fears of a possible disruption in the election calendar.

But speaking at the ninth annual Chief Justice forum, Her ladyship Georgina Wood said they will ensure the election calendar is not disrupted.

“At a time the high court rules have been amended to provide for witness statements, I am confident that the maximum professional diligence would be deployed by all judges in adjudicating the multiple suits being filed ahead of December7, 2016. Our planned programmes clearly demonstrate our commitment over the period and pledge to Ghanaians to play a pivotal role towards the peace, stability and sustained social economic and political development of our country.”

Georgina Wood also noted that measures have been put in place to tackle weaknesses in current rules on elections.

“You may be aware of possible weaknesses in the current rules including those for the purposes of a presidential election petition. I am assured that you would carefully explore the theme for today and make recommendations for further improvements in the adjudication process.”

EC sued over declaration of special voting results

An outspoken member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kwame Amoako-Tuffuor and two others have dragged the Electoral Commission to the Supreme Court seeking an order to compel the commission to announce results of special voting on the same day it is held.

The trio which included Benjamin Arthur and Adreba Abrefa Damoa argued in their writ that section 23 of C.I. 94, the law which regulates the conduct of the 2016 general elections, is inconsistent with Article 49 of the 1992 constitution.

EC sued over disqualifications

The Electoral Commission has further been sued by some political parties in the country for disqualifying their presidential nominees from the December 7 polls.

Some of them including Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Great Consolidated Popular Party’s (GCPP)Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey and nine others were disqualified from the race for having issues with their nomination forms.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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