Lawyers for three teenagers who have dragged the EC to court over the limited voter registration, are now seeking to compel the election management body to reopen the exercise in a manner that ensures that every person eligible to register does so.
The three teenagers Jean Ebenezer 19, Agnes Esther Lamptey 19, Abdul Latif Husein 18, dragged the EC to court after the Jean Mensah led body turned deaf ear to all pleas for the exercise to be held in the electoral areas.
The Jean Mensah led EC insisted and carried out the exercise in its District Electoral Offices, a move that lawyers for the three teenagers argue are in violation of the law that governs registration of voters CI 91.
Having started and completed the exercise despite the pendency of the action filed by the three teenagers, the lawyers for the three teenagers are now seeking to amend their original action to include an application for mandamus compelling the EC to reopen the exercise in a manner consistent with the law.
The Mandamus according to Elikplim Agbemava has become necessary because the EC in blantant disrespect for the High Court ignored their application for injunction.
The injunction application was included in the suit filed by Elikplim Agbemava on behalf of the three teenagers.
Arguing against an application filed by lawyer for the EC Justin Amenuvor, Elikplim Agbemava said the EC should have put the elections on hold after being served with a copy of the action he filed on behalf of the the three teenagers and Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana.
Lawyer Justin Amenuvor’s application moved on July 3, 2019 is seeking to get the case of the three teenagers thrown out or stayed to await the outcome of another matter at the Supreme Court.
Elikplim Agbemava in his argument in opposition to application heard by Justice Daniel Mensah, argued that the EC lost the legal right to come before the High Court when it ignored a pending application for injunction against the limited voter registration exercise to begin and complete the exercise.
Elikplim Agbemava is hoping the court will July 19 dismiss the EC’s application and admit his amended action.
In the amended action, Elikplim Agbemava is on behalf of the three teenagers making a strong case for the EC to be compelled to reopen the limited voter registration in compliance with CI 91 and the 1992 Constitution.
Regulation 2(2) of CI 91 states
In designating a place as a registration centre, the Commission shall take into consideration
- the suitability of the place for use as a
polling station on election day; and
- the accessibility of the place to prospective applicants for registration.
Story by: Sena Nombo/Radiogoldlive.com
