ROPAA Case: EC Bosses face contempt

The Electoral Commission and its commissioners have been cited for contempt of court in the case in which the commission is asking for time to implement the Representation of People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA).

On Monday April 3, lawyers of the commission led by Justine Amenuvor while moving the motion for the extension of time almond other things argued that the processes to implement the court orders were afflicted by the removal of the previous EC boss and her deputies.

He, however, prayed the court to grant the commission time to implement the court orders which was to start in January 1, 2018 and ended December 31 the same year.

But in court today, lawyer Samson Lardy Anyenini who’s counsel for the applicants who are Ghanaians living in abroad told the court that application by the EC was belated and failed to respect the court judgement and orders.

According to him, as far back as July 1, 2018 the new commission was properly constituted by the President that was six months before the expiration of the court orders.

He added that from July last year till now makes it nine months and therefore the ECs claims that it did not have enough time should not be tolerated by the court.

Lawyer Samson Lardy argued that, ever since the new commission was constituted, it had gone ahead to creat six new regions through a referendum.

He said the commission has again announced plans for another referendum, a clear demonstration that the commission is not interested in complying with the court orders.

Counsel argued that if the court is minded to consider the strange application, it must order the commission to comply with the court judgement and its orders within three months.

He added that a clear roadmap with a compelling action plan be demanded from the commission should the court decides to grant its application.

COMMIT EC BOSSES FOR CONTEMPT

Counsel while concluding his reply said claims that the commission was affected by the removal of the previous EC boss for which reason they could not comply with the court orders should be rejected and commit the EC and its commissioners for contempt of court.

EC RESPONSE

Justine Amenuvor responded on the point of law and indicated to the court they would rely on their affidavits to the court and prayed the court to granted their request.

BY COURT

Daily Heritage Court Correspondent Muntalla Inusah who was in court reported that the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Nicholas Mensah Abodakpi adjourned the matter to May 8, 2019 for a ruling.