EC ordered to compile new register

The Supreme Court has in a unanimous decision ruled that the Electoral Commission has the power to compile a new  voters’ register for the 2020 general elections.

This comes after private citizen Mark Takyi-Banson and the opposition NDC filed the case in court asking that it stops the EC from compiling the register or allow the use of the birth certificate and voters ID card by prospective voters as proof of identification.

The court, presided over by a seven-member panel in a ruling on Thursday, June 25, 2020, indicated that the election management body has the mandate to carried out its duty by law.

“By this decision, the Electoral Commission i.e. 2nd Defendants in Suit No. J1/9/2020 and 1st Defendants in Suit No. J1/12/2020 are hereby directed to commence the compilation of the voter registration exercise as scheduled. By these decisions and, by virtue of Article 130 (2) of the Constitution any court in which same or similar action is pending or yet to be filed shall apply the decision rendered by the Supreme Court in these consolidated suits. Reasons will be filed on or before the 15th of July 2020,” the Supreme Court directed.

The court also ruled against the NDC’s quest to get the EC to accept the current voters’ ID card as proof of identification in the planned registration exercise.

The Supreme Court also halted all actions pending against the EC on the voter registration in any Court.

“By these decisions and, by virtue of Article 130 (2) of the Constitution any court in which same or similar action is pending or yet to be filed shall apply the decision rendered by the Supreme Court in these consolidated suits,” the Supreme Court added in its ruling.