JAMES AMARH AMARTEY vs. ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA AND HON. ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2012]DLSC2689

Date	2012-10-24
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J1/25/2012
Citation No.	[2012]DLSC2689

ATUGUBA AG .C.J (PRESIDING)

DR. DATE-BAH J.S.C

ANSAH J.S.C.

OWUSU (MS.) J.S.C

ANIN-YEBOAH J.S.C.

GBADEGBE J.S.C.

AKOTO-BAMFO (MRS.) J.S.C

AYIKOI OTOO WITH HIM FRANK DAVIES FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

JAMES QUARSHIE-IDUN (WITH HIM ANTHONY DABI) FOR THE 1ST DEFENANT.

SYLVESTER WILLIAMS (PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY) FOR THE 2ND DEFENDANT.

[2012]DLSC2689
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JAMES AMARH AMARTEY<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA AND HON. ATTORNEY-GENERAL<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<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">

CIVIL APPEAL NO. J1/25/2012 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 24TH OCTOBER, 2012<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>AYIKOI OTOO WITH HIM FRANK
DAVIES FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>JAMES QUARSHIE-IDUN (WITH
HIM ANTHONY DABI) FOR THE 1ST DEFENANT.<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">

SYLVESTER
WILLIAMS (PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY) FOR THE 2ND DEFENDANT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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ATUGUBA AG .C.J (PRESIDING), DR. DATE-BAH J.S.C,
ANSAH J.S.C., OWUSU (MS.) J.S.C, ANIN-YEBOAH J.S.C., GBADEGBE J.S.C., AKOTO-BAMFO
(MRS.) J.S.C &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>OWUSU (MS.) JSC.<o:p></o:p>By his writ issued on 22/812, the
plaintiff, a citizen of Ghana and in his capacity as such, claims the following
reliefs:<o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “A
declaration that the Local Government (creation of New District Electoral Areas
and Designation of Units Instrument, L. I. 1983 of 2010, laid in parliament by
the Minister responsible for Local Government, and which came into force after
twenty-one (21) days from the day it was gazetted, was made by the minister
responsible for Local Government in contravention of Article 45(b) of the
constitution 1992.<o:p></o:p>(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An
order declaring the said Local Government (creation of New District, Electoral
Areas and Designation of Units). Instrument L. I. 1983 of 2010 null and void
and of no legal effect.<o:p></o:p>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
further declaration that the Representation of people (parliamentary
constituencies) Instrument 2012, C. I. 73 seeking to create forty five (45) new
constituencies, thereby increasing the existing constituencies from 230 to 275,
which has incorporated in it, by virtue of Regulation (2) thereof, the
Electoral Areas unconstitutionally created by the Minister responsible for
Local Government is equally null and void and of no legal effect and therefore
no national elections (presidential&nbsp;
&amp; parliamentary), ought to be held in reference to those Electoral
Areas as provided for under the said C. I. 78 of 2012”.<o:p></o:p>By a motion filed on 28-09-2012, the
plaintiff on 04-10-1012 sought for leave per counsel to amend the writ and
having been granted the leave, the writ was amended to read as follows:<o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “A
declaration that the Local Government (creation of New District Electoral Areas
and Designation of Units Instrument, L. I. 1983 of 2010, laid in parliament by
the Minister responsible </main>