EC wins over Sam George; 6k cost awarded

Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Samuel George court sue against the Electoral Commission (EC) for holding a training workshop in his constituency has been trashed out by the Tema High court.

The decision according to the High Court was motivated by order 55, rule 6 (2 and 3) of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2004 (CI 47).

The EC lawyer argued today that the applicants have failed to comply with the provisions of order 55, rule 6 (2 and 3) of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2004 (CI 47), in that they have not filed a Statement of Case to allow the EC to respond same. He added that the applicants filed the instant case on the 24th of April 2020 and as at today the 28th of May 2020, they have not filed their Statement of Case, to that end, the case ought to be struck out.

Justice Eugene Nyante Nyadu, agreed with the argument of the lawyer for the EC and ruled as follows; “application brought under Order 55 is struck out as prayed for non-compliance. Cost of Six thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc 6, 000. 00) is awarded against the applicant”.

The decision of the High Court today is a sharp departure from its earlier ruling when it injuncted the Electoral Commission from holding an internal meeting with its Commissioners, Directors, Regional Directors, Deputy Directors and some Senior Headquarters staff, to plan on how to execute their constitutional mandate in the upcoming general election on the 7th of December 2020.

New voters’ register

The EC has long argued that the current voter management system is at its end of life and must be replaced for a credible elections in December, 2020.

The opposition NDC and some like-minded smaller parties have, however, kicked against the compilation of a new roll.

Sam George demonstrates with NDC faithful and other parties who do not support the new register
NDC communicators say the EC is scheming with the governing NPP — which has long called for a new roll — to rig the polls.