KEY POINTS TO NOTE IN THE SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT ON THE NDC LAWSUIT

The Supreme Court (SC) of Ghana has given a verdict that the existing voter ID card and birth certificates cannot be used as proof of identity for the voters’ compilation.

This judgement annuls the challenge by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a private citizen, Mark Takyi-Banson, who were before the Republic of Ghana’s Highest Court questioning the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to compile an entirely new register without the current voter ID.

The SC is in agreement with the NDC that the right to vote, once conferred on a person, cannot be taken.

Via this verdict, the Supreme Court has also halted all actions pending against the EC in any court.

With this ruling the SC indicates the registration should be conducted in line with the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations 2012, C.I. 91 as amended as the newly passed Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2020 C.I. 126.

Shortly after the SC declaration, the NDC’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said his side was “most grateful” after the judgement and proclaimed that “we feel vindicated.”

More soon…