A Seven member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Julius Ansah has dismissed an application for interlocutory injunction to stop the Electoral Commission (EC) from carrying out its limited registration exercise.
The application filed by one Umar Ayuba, contended that the number of registration centres earmarked for the exercise is too small and that could lead to voter suppression.
While moving the application, lawyer for the applicant, Dr Dominic Ayine argued that an expected one point seven people have turned 18 years and ought to be registered under the exercise.
He added that less than 25 percent of the more than 6,600 electoral areas and the district offices of the EC which have been earmarked will cripple many qualified Ghanaians and prevent them from voting in next year’s general election.
To buttress his point, counsel drew the court’s attention to the fact that a similar approach which was adopted last year, only saw three hundred thousand persons registered, making it a source of concern. He argued that, while the convenience of the EC should be considered the inconvenience to Ghanaian voters should be seen as a priority.
Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame in opposing the application, described it as incompetent.
He told the court that the instant application did not invoke the original jurisdiction of the apex court and that it was not premised on a specific article.
He argued that, the EC has the exclusive right as per the constitution to conduct the exercise in the manner it desires.
Lawyer for the EC, Justin Amenuvor, told the court that he would rely on all the documents filed, except to add that, the applicant has no reasonable cause of action to apply for an injunction.
The court however dismissed the application. Reasons for the dismissal would be explained in the substantive matter.
