The Supreme Court has directed the Electoral Commission [EC] to call off the much publicized District Assembly elections which was scheduled for March 3, 2015.
The EC was dragged to court by an aspiring Assembly man, Benjamin Eyi Mensah, represented by lawyer Alex Afenyo Markin.
According to Eyi Mensah, a fisherman, he was denied an opportunity to file his nomination despite meeting all conditions to contest but the EC closed nominations before the maturation of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 85.
The William Atuguba led panel of judges ruled in favour of the fisherman on Friday and declared the impending election as “unconstitutional.”
According to the Supreme Court, the law on which the EC wanted to hold the election, CI 85 is not in force.
Benjamin Eyi Mensah (left), in long sleeves, flanked by family members
Benjamin Eyi Mensah (left), in long sleeves, flanked by family members
The EC’s lawyers, led by James Quarshie Idan argued that his client relied on the section 11 of the PNDC Law which deals with the organization of public elections in the country.
He further explained that section 11 of PNDC LAW 284, gave the EC the powers to organize and conduct elections in the country.
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the EC to stop running adverts of the elections ahead of the ruling on Friday.
According to the court, it was not right for the Commission to continue advertising the election when there was a case challenging the legality of the processes.
