The Supreme Court has abridged the date for the hearing of an application filed by Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) challenging a high court decision which overturned its disqualification of flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Papa Kwesi Ndoum from the December 7 presidential race.
The court presided over by justice Pwamang moved the date of hearing from next week to Friday , November 4, 2016.
He also ordered the lawyers for Dr. Ndoum who is the interested party in the suit to file their written submissions by noon on Thursday.
Dr. Ndoum speaking to the media after the hearing said he is unperturbed by decision by the EC to have the high court’s ruling reviewed.
Background
The EC rejected Dr. Nduom’s nomination claiming the number of subscribers to his forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94 [the law regulating the conduct of the 2016 elections].
The commission said one of his subscribers endorsed the form with different signatures in both portions of the nomination form, raising questions as to the legitimacy of one or both signatures.
But lawyers of the PPP argued that the EC did not give them the opportunity to correct the errors on the nomination forms.
Meanwhile, the court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, ordered the commission to give the PPP the chance to correct the anomalies on the nomination forms of its flagbearer, and subsequently decide whether to accept him inn the race or not.
EC seeks review at Supreme Court
The EC further went to the Supreme Court to seek clarity on the high court’s ruling.
A statement signed by the Head of Communications at the EC, Kofi Dzakpasu, said the commission took the decision in the interest of public policy and credibility of the electoral process.
Withdraw Supreme Court lawsuit
A private legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw had urged the EC to withdraw the case.
Speaking on The Ghana Report TV show on Monday, Mr Ampaw expressed shock at the move by the commission, given the limited number of days to the country’s general elections.
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