RANSFORD FRANCE vs. ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2012]DLSC2692

Date	2012-09-25
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J8/85/2012
Citation No.	[2012]DLSC2692

J. ANSAH JSC (PRESIDING)

DAVID ANNAN FOR THE APPLICANT

SAMUEL ATTA-AKYEA LED BY HON. NANA JOE GHARTEY WITH HIM MRS.

EFUA GHARTEY OSEI-OWUSU FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT.

JAMES QUASHIE-IDUN WITH HIM ANTHONY DABI FOR THE 1ST DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT.

HON. BENJAMIN KUMBOUR (ATTORNEY GENERAL) WITH HIM MRS.MBROKOH

EWOAL (SSA) FOR THE 2ND DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2012]DLSC2692
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >RANSFORD FRANCE<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND 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;
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CIVIL APPEAL NO. J8/85/2012&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2012<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&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;&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>DAVID ANNAN FOR THE
APPLICANT&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;&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;&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;&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;
SAMUEL ATTA-AKYEA, LED BY HON. NANA JOE GHARTEY WITH HIM MRS. EFUA
GHARTEY, OSEI-OWUSU FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>JAMES QUASHIE-IDUN WITH
HIM ANTHONY DABI FOR THE 1ST&nbsp;&nbsp; DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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HON.
BENJAMIN KUMBOUR (ATTORNEY GENERAL) WITH HIM MRS.MBROKOH EWOAL (SSA) FOR THE 2ND
DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT&nbsp; <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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J. ANSAH
JSC (PRESIDING)<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;
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JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>ANSAH JSC: <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>This is an application for an order of joinder to
the substantive matter in this suit seeking an order of this court to invoke
the original jurisdiction of this court for certain declarations, as either a
plaintiff or a defendant. <o:p></o:p>The application was opposed by the plaintiff but
the Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General did not. Counsel for the said
he wants the matter to be heard between the applicant and the respondent.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>In his submissions before this court, counsel for
the applicant stated he brought the application under Rule 45 (4) of the
Supreme Court Rules 1996, C.I. 16. It reads:<o:p></o:p> 
”(4) The Court may, on its own motion
or on the application of a party, order that any other person shall be made a
party to the action to or in substitution for any other party.”<o:p></o:p>The rule just quoted is under Part 4 of CI 16,
which deals with the Original Jurisdiction of this court which has been invoked
by the plaintiff in the substantive action, seeking several declarations from
this court, under articles 2 (1) and 130 1(a), of the 1992 Constitution. <o:p></o:p>By the use of the word ‘may’, in this rule in Rule 45 (4), the court has the discretion to
grant or refuse the application. Therefore, the question is should the
application be granted or refused? <o:p></o:p>The substance of the submissions of counsel for
the applicant was a virtual repetition of the depositions in his affidavit in
support of the application.<o:p></o:p>I quote the salient paragraphs here now:<o:p></o:p>“2. That it has come to my notice that a suit has
been filed in this Honorable Court, concerning the 45 Constituencies the
Electoral Commission seeks to create.<o:p></o:p>4 That I intend to contest as a Parliamentary in
the Ablekuma West Constituency which is one of the yet to be created
Constituencies.<o:p></o:p>5 That I am a registered voter in Ghana and a
Ghanaian citizen who intends to present my humble view and beliefs on the
subject matter in dispute in the substantive case and on the Application for
injunction brought by the Plaintiff if this application is granted by this
honorable court.<o:p></o:p>6 That I am a relevant intervener whose presence
will ensure that all matters in dispute in this proceeding will be effectually
and completely determined and adjudicated upon once and for all.<o:p></o:p>7 That this application is made in the interest of
justice and to avoid multiplicity of suits.<o:p></o:p>8 That I seek to protect my interest in standing
for elections as a Parliamentary candidate in one of the 45 Constituencies due
to be created by the Electoral Commission and seek to fight the matter without let or favor as a defendant or
interested party if the
app</main>