A handful of political parties are suing the country’s election management body for disqualifying their would-be candidates from running for the presidency on December 7. The Electoral Commission of Ghana (ECG) made the decision after it detected errors in the nomination forms handed in by the candidates. This legal action has raised fears that the elections might have to be postponed. Political analyst Kwesi Jonah thinks the commission should try to reach an out-of-court settlement with the concerned candidates: “Assuming that we are not able to hold elections on December 7 because of the court cases, what happens?” he asked. Jonah would like Ghana to maintain its reputation as a peaceful country with a tradition of free, fair and transparent elections.
Elections delay?
There are other cases pending in court. The ECG went to the Supreme Court to challenge a ruling faulting it for not giving aggrieved candidates enough time to correct the alleged errors on their application forms. Many fear that the sum of legal battles will disrupt the election calendar.
Georgina Theodora Wood, the country’s chief justice, plays down these fears. But she warned: “We need to conduct our affairs in the nation’s interest and in a just manner that will not disrupt our electoral or our constitutional calendar.”
Full Article: Court cases could hamper Ghana′s elections | NRS-Import | DW.COM | 07.11.2016.
