KOFI A. BOATENG, AGYENIM BOATENG, NELLIE KEMEVOR, OBED DANQUAH AND CHRISTIAN SILLIM vs. THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2017]DLHC9259

KOFI A. BOATENG, AGYENIM BOATENG, NELLIE KEMEVOR, OBED DANQUAH AND CHRISTIAN SIL... [2017]DLHC9259

Date	2017-12-18
Suit No.	SUIT NO. HR/0003/2017
Citation No.	[2017]DLHC9259

HIS LORDSHIP ANTHONY K. YEBOAH J

SAMSON LARDY ANYENINI ESQ. WITH

ROSELINE KALEDZI (MS.) FOR APPLICANTS PRESENT

BAFFOUR GYAWU BONSU AHYIA ESQ. FOR

THADDEUS SORY ESQ. FOR 1ST RESPONDENT PRESENT

ATTORNEY-GENERAL ABSENT

[2017]DLHC9259
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >KOFI A. BOATENG, AGYENIM BOATENG, NELLIE KEMEVOR, OBED DANQUAH
AND CHRISTIAN SILLIM<o:p></o:p>(APPLICANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>SUIT NO. HR/0003/2017&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;DATE:
18TH DECEMBER 2017<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>COUNSELS: <o:p></o:p>SAMSON LARDY ANYENINI, ESQ. WITH <o:p></o:p>ROSELINE KALEDZI (MS.) FOR APPLICANTS PRESENT <o:p></o:p>BAFFOUR GYAWU BONSU AHYIA, ESQ. FOR <o:p></o:p>THADDEUS SORY, ESQ. FOR 1ST RESPONDENT PRESENT <o:p></o:p>ATTORNEY-GENERAL ABSENT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>This is the final judgment in the application for the enforcement
of the fundamental human right to be registered and to vote abroad, as Ghanaian
citizens ordinarily resident abroad, in national elections and referenda, that
are conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:24.0pt;margin-right:.2pt;margin-bottom:
0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes">Parties <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:2.85pt;margin-right:.2pt;margin-bottom:
0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes">The Applicants are citizens of the Republic of Ghana by birth,
dual citizenship or both, and they are all ordinarily resident in the USA. They
have exhibited to their joint affidavit in support of their application
photocopies of their Dual Citizenship ID cards and extracts from their
passports in proof of their Ghanaian citizenship status. And, as such citizens,
they have brought the present application for the enforcement of their right to
diaspora voting. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:24.0pt;margin-right:.2pt;margin-bottom:
0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes">The 1st Respondent, the Electoral Commission is the
constitutional body charged, among others, with the responsibility of compiling
and revising the register of voters and conducting and supervising public
elections and referenda. The 2nd Respondent is the Attorney-General
of the Republic of Ghana, the principal legal adviser to the Government. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:24.0pt;margin-right:.2pt;margin-bottom:
0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes">Reliefs <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:2.85pt;margin-right:.2pt;margin-bottom:
0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes">As reliefs, the Applicants have brought the present application
for the enforcement of their fundamental human right pursuant to articles
17(2), 42, 33(5) </main>