AFRICAN REFORM MOVEMENT vs. THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION [2018]DLCA4417

Date	2018-07-19
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL SUIT NO: H1/43/2018
Citation No.	[2018]DLCA4417

KUSI-APPIAH J.A. (PRESIDING)

TORKORNOO (MRS.) J.A.

AGYEMANG (MRS.) J.A.

MR. CHARLES BENTUM FOR THE APPELLANT

MR. THADDEUS SORY FOR THE RESPONDENT

[2018]DLCA4417
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >AFRICAN REFORM MOVEMENT<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, 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 SUIT NO:&nbsp;
H1/43/2018&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: 19TH JULY 2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>MR. CHARLES BENTUM FOR THE
APPELLANT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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MR.
THADDEUS SORY FOR THE RESPONDENT <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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KUSI-APPIAH J.A. (PRESIDING), TORKORNOO (MRS.)
J.A. , AGYEMANG (MRS.) J.A.<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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JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>KUSI-APPIAH,
J.A.: This
appeal turns on the correct interpretation to place on section 9(c) of the
Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).&nbsp;
There are other ancillary matters too.&nbsp;
The section provides that:<o:p></o:p>“The commission shall not register a political party under this Act
unless – <o:p></o:p>9(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the party has branches in all the regions and is, in addition organised in not less than two-thirds
of the districts in each region.” <o:p></o:p>The appellant contends that by
this provision the respondent’s basis for denying the issue of a final
certificate of registration for non-compliance with section 9(c) of Act 574 is
misconceived and misplaced because the proper interpretation of section 9(c) of
Act 574 does not mean physical existence of party offices in the regions and
districts. &nbsp;The respondent contends
otherwise.&nbsp; This is the bone of
contention in this appeal but as I said earlier there are other grounds of
appeal which will be unfolded shortly.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>I believe that the appellant’s
appeal against the respondent herein stems from avenues provided by the
Political Parties Act 2000 (Act 574) to aggrieved party to seek redress upon a
party’s registration being refused by the respondent under the Act.<o:p></o:p>Section 12 of Act 574 provides:<o:p></o:p>“1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A political party whose application for
registration is refused by the Commission under this Act, may at any time apply
to the commission for the reconsideration of its decision not to register the political
party.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>