New Regions: EC dismisses injunction claim

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has dismissed a purported injunction against the referenda to create new regions in the country.

The election conducting body has subsequently asked the electorate to turn up in their numbers as the referenda will be held according to the earlier announced date of 27 December 2018.

This was contained in a press statement issued by Dr Bossman Asare, a Deputy Chairman of the EC.

The release, therefore, asked the public to disregard reports by some media houses alleging that the referenda will not be held on 27 December 2018.

“The Commission calls on the general public to disregard that information. All arrangements are in place and the referendum will be held as scheduled on Thursday, the 27th of December, 2018,” the statement noted.

Two Ghanaians, Gabriel Aziaglo of Dodo Tamale in the Kadjebi District and Dan Louis Nikabo of Avornyokope also in the Kadjebi District of the Volta Region, applied to the High Court to put an injunction on the referenda to create the six new regions on Monday, 24 December 2018.

The applicants, who said they are registered voters in the proposed Oti Region to be created out of the Volta Region, were of the view that the processes will not be fair and transparent and prayed the court to enforce their fundamental human rights.

The six proposed regions are Oti, North East, Savannah, Ahafo, Bono East and Western North.

Below is the full statement from the EC:

PURPORTED INJUNCTION ON THE REFERENDUM PRESS RELEASE

The Commission has received reports from a section of the media that an injunction has been placed on the upcoming referendum scheduled for Thursday the 27th Day of December 2018.

The Commission calls on the general public to disregard that information.

All arrangements are in place and the referendum will be held as scheduled on Thursday the 27thof December 2018.

The Commission calls on all eligible voters in the affected areas of BONO EAST, AHAFO, NORTH EAST, SAVANNA, WESTERN NORTH, and OTI to go out in their numbers to cast their votes on Thursday, 27th December 2018 from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thank you.