EC ready to oblige to Supreme Court decision

The Electoral Commission (EC) has indicated that it will “respectfully” conform to any decision of the country’s Supreme Court over the usage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards by eligible voters to register.

The EC begins revision of the voters’ register from Friday, July 25, but National Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC) Abu Ramadan and Evans Nimako are challenging the Commission over the use of the NHIS cards as part of documents of proof as regards eligibility to register.

The Supreme Court ordered the EC and the Attorney General to file responses in the writ for hearing to start on Thursday, July 24.

“We keep on reiterating that if the Court says that the Electoral Commission should disallow the usage of the NHIS cards as a form of identification so be it,” said Sylvia Annor, the Principal Public Relations Officer of the Commission, “we will oblige respectfully.”

She, however, stated that so long as judgement has not been pronounced, the Commission will go ahead to apply the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 72 - which allows usage of the cards to register - during the forthcoming exercise.

“Publicity is underway,” Ms Annor said.

The EC will be forced to delete names of voters, who registered for the 2012 elections with NHIS cards, from the voters' register if the Supreme Court passes judgement in favour of Ramadan and Nimako.