ROPAA: Respondents to file supplementary affidavit in opposition

Mr Sampson Lardi, counsel for the Respondents in the Representative of the Peoples Amendment Act (ROPAA) case on Thursday said his clients will file a supplementary affidavit in opposition to the application of the Electoral Commission for extension of time to implement the Act.

Mr Lardi said initially it was supposed to be filed on Wednesday, March 20, but there were some difficulties, so he prayed for an adjournment to enable them file the document.

Mr Justin Amevor, Counsel for the Commission, who was ready to move the application did not raise any objection.

The court presided over by Justice Nicholas Abodakpi, then adjourned the case to April 3.

On March 4, when the case was called, Mr Lardi told the court that his clients were served with the application for extension of time by the Commission of which they have responded with an affidavit in opposition on February 11, 2019.

The Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday, March 4 file a motion on notice for extension of time to enable it comply with Court’s order to operationalizes the ROPAA (2006) Act 699 by December 17, 2018.

The respondents are Kofi A. Boateng, Nellie Kemevor, Obed Danquah, Christiana Sillim and Agyenim Boateng, all residing in New York State and Kentucky in the United State of America.

This action follows a December 17, 2017 court order directed at the Commission to implement ROPAA within 12 months.

The EC by its request for extension of time is praying the court to allow it another year to fully operationalize the 12-year old law that made it legal for Ghanaians living abroad to vote in general elections in Ghana.

Mr Justin Amevor, Counsel for the Commission in an attempt to move the motion was asked, whether they have been served with the respondent’s affidavits in opposition of which he answered in the affirmative.

The earlier plaintiffs who are all members of the Progressive Alliance Movement (PAM) a New York State incorporated non-profit organization, were seeking from the Court “a Declaration that they have fundamental human rights under Articles 17(2), 42 and 33(5), of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, ROPAA Act 2006 [Act 699].

They also have rights under Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Article 25 of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Protocol 1 (article 3) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

They are also seeking “to be registered as voter[s] while resident abroad and being outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ghana, and doing so from/at their places of residence abroad or designated centres close to their places of residence abroad or from/at the Ghana Mission/Embassy within their jurisdiction abroad of which the court ordered the Commission to implement the Act.

Source: GNA

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