Tain run-off will go ahead Friday

There have been rumours making the rounds that the cliffhanger run-off voting in the Tain constituency of the Brong Ahafo region, which could possibly decide the winner of Ghana Election 2008 would not come on as scheduled.

But that is not the case. The election will come on as scheduled Friday January 2, 2009.

The rumour followed a court action initiated by the ruling party at an Accra Fast Track High Court. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) which is a contender in the election went to court to seek an ex-parte motion to stop the Electoral Commission (EC) from announcing a winner in the presidential election, which final results would be determined by the outcome of Friday’s voting at Tain.

The application by the NPP sought the court’s order to place an injunction on the EC to refrain from announcing a winner in the elections until claims of electoral fraud in the December 28 run-off have been investigated. Both the NPP and National Democratic Congress (NDC) have alleged fraud in the elections.

The court has clarified that the writ did not seek to halt the election in Tain.

But the Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice Amoako Asante has ordered the plaintiffs, the NPP to come to court by motion on notice. The court therefore, ordered the plaintiffs to serve the EC and the NDC as parties in the case to enable them appear before it.

The court ordered the NPP to serve the EC and the NDC copies of the court process by 10:00 a.m. Friday January 2, 2009, so that the respondents, that is the EC and the NDC would file written responses to the court by 11.00 a.m. Saturday.

According to the judge, the substance of the application was of national importance and so grave to the national health, it was therefore, not proper for the plaintiffs to come by an ex-parte motion.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi