The Minority in Parliament is mounting a strong opposition to the implementation of the Representation of the People Amendment Act also known as the ROPAA, 2006 [Act 699].
The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court, presided over by His Lordship Justice Anthony K. Yeboah, on Monday ordered the Electoral Commission to within 12 months implement the People Amendment Act.
The verdict of the Court means Ghanaians living abroad will be allowed to vote in the 2020 general elections.
The court upheld arguments by 5 Ghanaians based abroad that the EC has caused an infringement of their human rights by failing to implement the law.
The Representation of the People Amendment Act 2006, (Act 699) was passed 11 years ago, during the Kufuor Administration, but has since not been implemented.
The court in its judgement said the Electoral Commission has no justifiable reason not to carry out the dictates of a law that binds them. The court added the EC’s justification for the delay in implementation is unreasonable and outrageous.
Commenting on the verdict of the court some Minority Members of Parliament said the implementation of the ROPAA law will create a lot of problems for the country.
According to them, the implementation will put the credibility of elections at stake as it's required of Commissioners and Ambassadors outside the country to oversee the election. They believe with Ambassadors aligned to government, the process cannot be trusted to be free and fair.
In a radio interview, the National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, Kofi Adams, insisted the implementation of the ROPAA will not be feasible.
He said what the country needs to focus on, is not issues of Ghanaians outside who want to vote but issues such as the provision of social amenities and tackling political witch hunting.
Kofi Adams further explained that some clauses in the CI of the EC have been expunged to allow Ghanaian nationals outside to come and vote during elections.
In addition, he said if the law is implemented, the EC will have to be present in every foreign country that a Ghanaian is and that cannot be possible.
Reacting to the comment of Kofi Adams, Dr Kofi Boteang who is part of the petitioners said after 12years of the enactment of the law, the EC has shown no effort to implement the law and have no excuse after these years not to allow Ghanaians outside to vote.
Read also:Â Court orders EC to allow Ghanaians living abroad vote in 2020
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