Supreme Court to rule on Zanetor application today

The Supreme Court will today rule on an application filed by Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, the National Democratic Congress’ parliamentary nominee for Klottey Korle Constituency, challenging the capacity of an Accra High Court to hear a case concerning her candidature.

Dr. Zanetor is seeking an order of prohibition directed at the trial judge, Mr. Justice Kwaku T. Ackah Boafo from further hearing the matter.

According to Dr. Zanetor’s lawyer, Godwin Tamakloe, the trial judge erred in law when he wrongfully assumed the jurisdictional role to interpreted Article 94 (1) (a) of the 1992 Constitution.

At the last sitting on May 3, counsel contended that the function of the interpretation of the Constitution was done by the Supreme Court and not the High Court in the matter at stake.

The trial judge had ruled that since Zanetor has put herself up she was entangled in the web of Article 94 (1) (a) which stipulates that she should be a registered voter before participating in last November parliamentary primaries.

Counsel was of the view that the said ruling be brought before the SC for same to be quashed.

Mr. Tamakloe argued that political parties had ways of declaring people as candidates adding these were done by popular acclamation or open contest.

Nii Armah Ashietey the incumbent Member of Parliament who lost to Dr. Rawlings last year had gone to court challenging his defeat in November 11, 2015, primaries citing some constitutional breaches.

According to Mr. Ashietey, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings did not qualify to be elected as the parliamentary nominee since at the time of the contest she was not a registered voter in the country.