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Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt says there is nothing wrong with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) expressing disappointment in the Supreme Court ruling regarding the Electoral Commission's decision to compile a new voters' register.

NDC vs EC Suit

The NDC, in March this year, dragged the Electoral Commission to the Apex Court and sought two reliefs, first being that the court should make a declaration on whether the electoral management body had the constitutional right to compile a new register or the law only permits it to do one register and review it periodically.

The second item they placed before the court was for the Justices to determine whether the EC's exclusion of the voter ID card was constitutional or not, thereby challenging the Commission's decision to permit only the Ghana card and passport as identification documents for the new voters' registration exercise.

The NDC however dropped their first relief and pursued the second leg of their law suit after the Supreme Court held that the court rule doesn't permit it to put forward a relief and seek for another relief in the alternative.

Supreme Court Ruling 

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, June 25, 2020, unanimously ruled in favour of the Electoral Commission and dismissed reliefs by the NDC.

A 7-member panel presided by Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah held that the EC is an independent body and will only be directed by the court if it acts contrary to law.

EC Respects Supreme Court Ruling

Following the court ruling, the Electoral Commission issued a statement emphasizing ''the Commission entreats all its stakeholders to hold themselves in readiness for the Voters’ Registration Exercise".

"The Commission will enforce strict safety protocols at its registration Centres across the country so as to protect Applicants from the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement concluded.

The registration exercise will begin on Tuesday, June 30 and it is expected to last for 38 days.

NDC Disappointed in the Supreme Court

Former President John Dramani Mahama, also addressing the nation, expressed the National Democratic Congress’ unhappiness with the Supreme Court judgement to exclude the existing voter ID card from the upcoming voter registration exercise.

“We are deeply disappointed and strongly disagree with the court over this outcome, which has confounded many legal experts and thrown the country into a state of confusion”.

“Our legal team is examining this decision even as we await the full judgement,” Mr Mahama added.

Kwesi Pratt's Ruling on NDC/EC Supreme Court Verdict

Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Kwesi Pratt was of a view that the NDC's criticism of the Supreme Court ruling is in order.

According to him, it is a lawful right of every Ghanaian to register his or her displeasure with a court ruling if he or she feels the verdict was wrong.

“The law permits us to agree or disagree with a Supreme Court ruling. The law also gives us such right; we can disagree with the Supreme Court. Even the full bench of the Supreme Court, when they make a ruling, we can comment on it because the Supreme Court acts in our name. So, every Ghanaian has the right to disagree with the Supreme Court,”, he stated.