PNC disqualification case: EC fined GHC 500 for being absent in court

An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Novisi Afua Anyene has fined the Electoral Commission GHC 500 for absenting itself when the disqualification case against People National Convention (PNC) was called Tuesday morning.

Lawyer for the EC, Thaddeus Sory, pleaded with the court to pardon the EC since he was in a different court defending the Commission in another suit, but the judge ignored his plea and adjourned the case to Friday Nov 4 for both parties to file their written submissions.

Kasapa FM’s court correspondent, Daakyehene Ofosu Agyeman reported that Justice Afua Novisi Aryene further ordered lawyers of both PNC and EC to file their written submissions within 48 hours, after a request by PNC lawyers for an abridgment of time was granted.

The parties will return to court on Friday 4th November to make their viva voce submissions.

The Electoral Commission at the close of filing of nomination for Flagbearers, disqualified the PNC’s Presidential candidate from contesting the 2016 election. The Commission said it was unable to accept Dr. Edward Mahama’s nomination as many subscribers did not properly sign the forms, while thumbprints, signatures or marks were omitted all together, among a host of other anomalies found on the forms.

The PNC resorted to the court in order to get the EC to rescind its decision taken against the party.