[ 2014-07-25 ]

Prepare for unforeseen setbacks – Lawyer tells EC
Nana Asante Bediatuo, lead counsel for Peoples
National Convention’s (PNC) Abu Ramadan has
advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to prepare
for unforeseen circumstances in undertaking their
duties.
This, he said, is to prevent the Commission from
re-scheduling the undertaking of their key duties
ahead of general elections in Ghana.
He chastised the EC for waiting until too late to
work under strict timelines because “if there is
a challenge to some aspects of your work, you
cannot turn around and complain…”
The National Youth Organizer of the PNC, Abu
Ramadan filed a suit against the EC praying the
court to stop the Commission from accepting the
National Health Insurance cards to register
prospective voters ahead of the 2016 general
elections.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered the
Commission to suspend the planned registration,
which was scheduled to begin on Friday, July 25,
2014.
The suspension is to hold until the final
determination of the suit.


The EC has however indicated the Supreme Court
ruling will delay the exercise which is a crucial
for the 2016 general elections.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, Nana Asante Bedietuo
admitted that the injunction on the registration
exercise will disrupt the activities of the EC
which is on a strict timeline.
But he was quick to add that due to such
unforeseen circumstances, the EC should have
arraigned its affairs “in such a way that there
is always some room to maneuver.”
He described his client’s case as a “simple
one” which seeks to prevent unqualified
individuals as stipulated by the constitution to
be registered to vote in Ghana’s elections.
Abu Ramadan’s counsel maintained that if the
delay in undertaking the voter’s registration
exercise is the price to pay for a clean register,
“then it’s a price well paid.”
He said despite the order from the Supreme Court,
it would have been unwise for the Electoral
Commission (EC) to have gone ahead with the
registration of new voters.
He also mentioned that there are reports of the
non-availability of funds at the disposal of the
Commission to carry out the registration exercise
and the district assembly elections.
“…and so whatever be the case, it certainly
wouldn’t be a good idea if they go ahead and do
the exercise,” he said.

Source - Citifmonline

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