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The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court on Monday December 18, 2017 ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to implement the Representation of the People Amendment Act (ROPAA) 2006 (Act699), which gives Ghanaians in the diaspora the right to vote, within 12 months.

The Court presided over by Mr Justice Anthony Yeboah, said the 12 months grace period starts from January 1, 2018, and it is to enable Ghanaians in the diaspora to vote in the 2020 elections.

Per the court order, the EC must operationalise the Act by laying a constitutional provision (CI) before Parliament to set out the modalities for the implementation of the Act.

This case was taken to court by five applicants namely: Kofi A. Boateng, Nellie Kemevor, Obed Danquah, Christiana Sillim and Agyenim Boateng, all residing in New York State and Kentucky in the USA, and are citizens by birth, dual citizenship, or both.

Speaking to the issue in an interview on Tuesday’s edition of ‘Kokrokoo’, counsel for the five applicants, Samson Lardy Anyenini was satisfied with the ruling which to him was long overdue.

Lawyer Anyenini who was speaking to Kwami Sefa-Kayi also painted a vivid picture of what really happened in court. Click the audio above to listen.