[contextly_sidebar id=”LZFwsCfgOGyrHcOqx1KJlcqMPsUxeixW”]Abu Ramanadan had previously served notice he will be forced to cite the EC for contempt if the commission fails to implement the order by the\u00a0Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Background<\/strong><\/p>\n The apex court on May 5,\u00a0asked 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 NHIS card as a proof of identity.<\/p>\n The ruling followed a suit filed by Abu Ramadan, and one, Evans Nimako, who in 2014 won a lawsuit that barred the use of NHIS cards for registration.<\/p>\n The two, among other reliefs, wanted the current register declared inappropriate for the November polls.<\/p>\n But the EC after studying the ruling said it\u2019s understanding does not suggest the use of any new process to delete the names of those who registered with NHIS cards, since there are already laid down procedures for expunging ineligible names.<\/p>\n The EC’s explanation however angered Mr. Ramadan who felt the Commission was disrespecting the explicit orders of the court.<\/p>\n His position was further strengthened when one of the judges who gave the May 5 ruling, stated categorically that the ruling was clear and unambiguous and that the EC must remove the names of persons who registered with the NHIS card.<\/p>\n Suit filed today [Tuesday]<\/strong><\/p>\n Abu Ramadan told host of Eyewitness News<\/strong>, Richard Dela Sky that\u00a0\u201cwe are back in court in fulfillment of our promise to make sure that the Electoral Commission really implements fully the orders of the court. Today [Tuesday] my lawyers happily were able to complete the processes of filing and we are waiting hopefully, tomorrow or Friday to get the hearing date for the substantive matter.\u201d<\/p>\n He explained that\u00a0\u201cwe decided to go to court to ask the court to give us further direction on the ruling it gave. That is to say that, as the court has ordered, based on that, the court should give us further direction.”<\/p>\n “If we go through that process and that is done and the Commission still refuses to implement the orders of the court, then clearly the issue of contempt of court wouldn\u2019t be ambiguous anymore in the minds of anybody again,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n We won’t stop suing EC<\/strong><\/p>\n Abu Ramadan who argued that he and his colleague;\u00a0Evans Nimako are\u00a0not harassing the EC with their suits said they will only halt such actions \u201cwhen they [EC] decide that they are going to give the Ghanaian people a credible register, credible voting process and a more credible and satisfying electoral process.\u201d<\/p>\n NPP Chairmen sue for removal of NHIS registrants\u00a0from register\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n On June 10 this year, three Regional Chairmen of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the Upper East, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions, also\u00a0filed a fresh suit <\/a><\/strong><\/span>at the Supreme Court, asking it to\u00a0compel the EC to furnish them with the list of all persons who registered with NHIS cards nationwide.<\/p>\n The Regional Chairmen say their request has become necessary in the light of the Supreme Court\u2019s order in the Abu Ramadan case, directing the EC to expunge such names from the voters\u2019 register.<\/p>\n Ghana goes to the polls in November, barely five months away.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Godwin A. Allotey\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana![\"The](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/seven-EC-commissioners.jpg\")
\nFollow @AlloteyGodwin<\/a>
\n