Ghana’s apex court has in a unanimous decision dismissed two grounds brought before it by the Electoral Commission (EC) and upheld one in the suit brought before it by the EC.
The 7 member panel justices dismissed the Electoral Commission’s plea of Error of Law against the High Court which ruled on the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) case vs the EC. The apex court held the High Court was not in the wrong.
Again the Supreme Court dismissed the Wrongful Jurisdiction plea by the EC against the High Court noting the High Court had the locus to hear the matter.
The Supreme Court justices however upheld the EC’s charge of Excessive Jurisdiction against the High Court judge who ruled on the matter. The Supreme Court held that the justice acted beyond his powers when he directed the EC to make room for the PPP presidential nominee, Papa Kwesi Ndoum to amend or cure any defect on his nomination paper.
The Supreme Court further gave 3 directives to the Electorate Commission:
- That the EC extends the nomination period for filing of nomination forms from today to tomorrow.
- That all cases dealing with disqualification by the High Court be stayed or suspended.
- That the EC complies with the dictates of C.I 94
After the amendment to the nomination papers, the EC can then make determination whether the corrected form meets the requirement of law.
After the court’s ruling, the EC officials hurriedly entered the vehicles and exited the yard of the court. Meanwhile Papa Kwesi Ndoum loyalists and lawyers were elated after consuming the verdict.