The Electoral Commission has explained in its official response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on the voters\u2019 register that they were not instructed to delete the names of those who registered ahead of the 2012 elections with the National Health Insurance card as a proof of identity.<\/p>\n
According to the EC, per the ruling, such names can only be removed using the already existing processes used for expunging ineligible names.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court on May 5th described the nation\u2019s electoral register as \u201creasonably inaccurate<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u201d barely six months to the election.<\/p>\n [contextly_sidebar id=”1pYWGRelx1RO9XWPxrsrSFzjmmlgWRpP”]The apex court made the statement in its ruling in a case brought before it by a former National Youth Organizer of the People\u2019s National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan and one Evans Nimako, who were challenging the credibility of the voters\u2019 register.<\/p>\n The two, who filed the case in December 2015, sought among others a declaration that the 2012 voters\u2019 register which contains the names of persons who have not established qualification to be registered is inconsistent with Article 42 and 45 (a) is unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.<\/p>\n But the Supreme Court asked the Electoral Commission to expunge from the current voters\u2019 register the names of all persons who registered and voted in the 2012 elections, with the National Health Insurance card as a proof of identity.<\/p>\n But the EC after studying the ruling now says, their understanding of the ruling does not suggest the use of any new process to delete the names of those who registered with NHIS cards, since at the time of registration, there was no law barring them.<\/p>\n In a statement signed by Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, a Deputy Chair of the Commission in charge of Corporate Services said they are ready to implement the directives by following existing applicable laws on cleaning the register.<\/p>\n \u201cThat the existing law has made ample and sufficient provisions for ineligible names to be deleted during the exhibition of the provisional register but such deletions must be in accordance with the applicable law. For persons who registered with NHIA cards, such registrations were lawful at the time of registration, and the subsequent declaration of unconstitutionality in the earlier Abu Ramadan case, does not \u2018automatically render them void\u2019. Such a position according to the Supreme Court, \u201cwould have the effect of disenfranchising the persons affected. Such registrations should only be deleted by means of processes established under the law.\u201d<\/p>\n Below is the EC\u2019s full statement<\/strong><\/p>\n The Electoral Commission and its legal advisers have carefully studied the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on May 5, 2016 in respect of the case of \u201cAbu Ramadan & Evans Nimako vs. The Electoral Commission & The Attorney-General\u201d.<\/p>\n The Commission confirms that it accepts the ruling of the Supreme Court which ordered that: (b) Any person whose name is deleted from the register of voters by the Electoral Commission pursuant to order (a) above be given the opportunity to register under the law.<\/p>\n The Commission is of the view that the directives of the Apex Court are clear and emphasize the processes already laid down in the law for cleaning the voters\u2019 register. The Supreme Court was of the view that these processes are \u2018ample and sufficient\u2019 to remove the names of ineligible and deceased persons from the register.<\/p>\n The Supreme Court essentially held as follows:<\/p>\n 1. That the Electoral Commission has a duty to compile a credible register, and in so doing, must act within the remits of the Constitution and applicable law.<\/p>\n 2. That the existing law has made ample and sufficient provisions for ineligible names to be deleted during the exhibition of the provisional register but such deletions must be in accordance with the applicable law;<\/p>\n 3. For persons who registered with NHIA cards, such registrations were lawful at the time of registration, and the subsequent declaration of unconstitutionality in the earlier Abu Ramadan case, does not 4. The process of validation proposed by the petitioners is without statutory authority and in \u201ccarrying out its functions, the Electoral Commission cannot employ non-statutory remedies\u201d.<\/p>\n Further, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected the following reliefs requested by the Petitioners:<\/p>\n 1. That the current register of voters is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect;<\/p>\n 2. That the Electoral Commission be compelled to compile a fresh Register of voters;<\/p>\n 3. That the Electoral Commission be compelled (as an alternative to compiling a new register), to audit the current Register of voters through validation of the registration of each person currently on the register (as defined by the petitioners).<\/p>\n The Judgment of the Supreme Court affirms the Commission\u2019s consistent position on the status of the current Voters\u2019 register and the mechanisms for cleaning it, to make it acceptable to all stakeholders. The EC remains willing and committed to ensuring a clean register prior to the elections in accordance with the law. As unanimously agreed by all the political stakeholders at an earlier Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in March this year, the mechanisms outlined by the Commission for cleaning the register are Inclusive, Collaborative, Legal and Transparent.<\/p>\n It must be noted that the EC by itself, has no power under any law currently in force, to unilaterally delete the names of persons from the register.<\/p>\n For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that under the existing and applicable law, where a person\u2019s registration is challenged during a registration process, that challenge must be referred to a District Registration Review Committee (DRRC) for determination.<\/p>\n The EC is only permitted to act on the decision of the DRRC following the determination of the challenge to delete or maintain the name of the challenged person on the register.<\/p>\n Similarly, for persons who are already on the Provisional Register, the law requires that an objection is made during the exhibition process either by a registered voter or an official of the Commission.<\/p>\n These objections are then referred to the District Registration Review Officer (DRRO) for determination. The Commission is required by the law to act on the decision of the DRRO following determination of the objection.<\/p>\n As an institution that derives its existence from the law, the Electoral Commission cannot be seen to be acting arbitrarily.<\/p>\n We are delighted that the Supreme Court agrees with us on this position. In complying with the directives of the Apex Court, the Commission intends to fully follow the applicable law.<\/p>\n The Commission is urging all stakeholders in the political process to join us in working to ensure a cleaner register ahead of this year\u2019s election.<\/p>\n Finally, the Commission looks forward to working with all citizens of Ghana towards ensuring a peaceful, transparent, trusted, independent and world-class electoral process.<\/p>\n Thank you.<\/p>\n Signed:<\/p>\n GEORGINA OPOKU AMANKWAA<\/p>\n Deputy Chair (Corporate Services)
\n(a) The Electoral Commission takes steps immediately to delete or as is popularly known \u2018clean\u201d the current register of voters to comply with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution, and applicable laws of Ghana;<\/p>\n
\n\u2018automatically render them void\u2019. Such a position according to the Supreme Court, \u201cwould have the effect of disenfranchising the persons affected. Such registrations should only be deleted by means of processes established under the law\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nHowever, the Commission wishes to remind the public that all stakeholders in the political process have a key duty to support and work with the Commission in ensuring a cleaner and more credible register.<\/p>\n
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\nBy: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
\nFollow @AfanyiDadzie<\/a>
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