Use of old voters’ ID cards for registration: Supreme Court adjourns decision indefinitely
The Supreme Court has adjourned indefinitely, its decision on whether or not the current voters’ ID card can be used in the upcoming voters’ registration exercise to be conducted by the Electoral Commission. |
A new development in the case Friday caused the court to indefinitely adjourn the case filed by the National Democratic Congress which was to be decided on by the court on June 23.
The Supreme Court by a unanimous decision Friday combined the NDC’s case with another one recently filed by Mark Tekyi-Benson, who is challenging the EC’s decision to use the Ghana Card and the Ghanaian passport as the documents proof of nationality.
It followed an application to the court filed by Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah, which prayed for the mergence two cases.
Mr Dame argued Friday the two cases were related in nature as they have same facts and similar reliefs.
Counsel for the NDC, Godwin Tamakloe objected to the request for the cases to be consolidated on the basis that they were different. He however backed down on the objection after one of the judges advised him on the matter.
On the back of that, the court granted the AG’s application and accordingly merged the two cases.
The court has meanwhile ordered Mr Tekyi-Benson to file his statement of case by Monday June 22.
The Attorney General and the Electoral Commission who are defendants in the case have also been asked to file their respective responses by June 23.
Hearing of the case has been set for June 24.
The NDC filed an application urging the Supreme Court to order the Electoral Commission to allow eligible Ghanaians use the existing voters’ ID card as proof of citizenship.
Earlier the party challenged the EC’s decision to compile a new register but abandoned it after the court asked for clarification on the relief it wanted the court to decide on.
But a fresh suit from a native of Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District, in the Central Region, Mark Takyi-Banson was filed to challenge the decision of the EC to use the Ghana Card and the Ghanaian passport as the only identification as proofs of citizenship.
He is urging the Supreme Court to order the EC to include a birth certificate and the existing voters’ ID card as evidence of identification in the registration exercise.
By 3news.com|Ghana
0 Comments