Electoral commission ordered to suspend elections

An Accra a high court, presided over by Mr Justice, K. Tweneboa-Kodua, has ordered the Electoral Commission to suspend its forthcoming unit committee election scheduled for May 31 The order is to remain in force until such time that the Electoral Commission meets all conditions required by law such as the placement of election notices on various unit boards and also make available forms for nomination papers and statutory declaration for the public to have access to.

The Court's order follows an action initiated by four aspiring contestants in Accra.

The four, Messrs Daniel Mensa Brown Forson, Francis Omari Safo, Ojedu Richardson and William Brown, in their statement of claim said the notice and facilities for the election are inadequate and contrary to the law.

They therefore sought an injunction to restrain the Electoral Commission from conducting the election until it has fulfilled the conditions for a fair one.

According to the plaintiffs, since May 16, when they heard of the invitation for nominations, their inquiries have revealed that the Electoral Commission has not circulated nomination forms in thier electoral areas.

They indicated that they have since May 16, gone to the various offices for nomination forms but the commission has failed to give them. The plaintiffs said the conduct of the commission is consistent with the constitution and negation of the fundamental liberties enshrined in the constitution.

Besides, they said have been disenabled from contesting the said election since closing date for the nomination was may 23.