NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS vs. ELECTORAL COMMISSION [2001]DLSC1212

Date	2001-06-13
Suit No.
Citation No.	[2001]DLSC1212

EDWARD WIREDU AG CJ JSC

BAMFORD-ADDO JSC

AMPIAH JSC

ADJABENG JSC

ACQUAH JSC

ATUGUBA JSC

AKUFFO JSC

LAMPTEY JSC

ADZOE JSC

KWAKU BAAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

JOHNNY B QUASHIE-IDUN (WITH HIM ADUMUAH-OSEI AND E O AMOAH) FOR THE DEFENDANT.

[2001]DLSC1212
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">ELECTORAL COMMISSION<o:p></o:p>[SUPREME
COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[2001-2002]
2 GLR 340<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>KWAKU
BAAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

JOHNNY
B QUASHIE-IDUN (WITH HIM ADUMUAH-OSEI AND E O AMOAH) FOR THE DEFENDANT. <o:p></o:p>

EDWARD
WIREDU AG CJ, BAMFORD-ADDO, AMPIAH, ADJABENG, ACQUAH, ATUGUBA AKUFFO, LAMPTEY
AND ADZOE JJSC<o:p></o:p>

</div>JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>Edward Wiredu AG CJ. <o:p></o:p>By
its writ, the plaintiff, the National Democratic Congress, seeks against the
defendant, the Electoral Commission of Ghana the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“(1)
a declaration that the notice issued by the defendant to conduct on 20 March
2001, the election of regional representatives to the Council of State ‘is an
act which is inconsistent with or in contravention of the provisions of articles
89(2)(c) and 242(c) and (d) of the Constitution’ and therefore null and void; <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(2)
an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, its servants and
agents, from conducting the said election on the said date or any other date;
and <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(3)
an order restraining the defendant from conducting the said elections until the
determination of this suit.”<o:p></o:p>Since
by this action, the plaintiff seeks to invoke the original jurisdiction of this
court under article 2(1)(b) of the Constitution, 1992, the fundamental question
that comes to mind is whether or not the action is one congnisable by the
article. The provisions of article 2(1)(b) of the Constitution, 1992 are by now
pretty well known, however, for ease of reference I set it out as follows:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“2.
A person who alleges that—<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(b)
any act or omission of any person; is inconsistent with, or is in contravention
of a provision of this Constitution, may bring an action in the Supreme Court
for a declaration to that effect.”<o:p></o:p>What
then is the plaintiff’s complaint or allegation against the defendant? By the
nature of the main relief, ie the declaration sough</main>