Jean Mensah, deputies cited for contempt over limited voter registration exercise

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) is facing legal action as it has been taken to an Accra High Court for contempt.

This legal action follows the EC’s decision to proceed with the limited voter registration exercise despite the existence of an interlocutory injunction filed against the Commission.

The interlocutory injunction was secured on Friday, September 8 by a resident of Otsebleku near Afienya, Ayitah Precious, who is not a registered voter. She obtained the injunction to prevent the voter registration exercise from commencing, especially in the districts.

Ayitah Precious in her writ emphasized that her place of residence is located approximately 44.3 kilometres from the EC’s District office in Prampram when using the Accra-Aflao road, and about 37.3 kilometres when using the Akosombo-Accra road and indicated she cannot afford the cost of travelling the distance to have her registration done.

She argued that it would have been more convenient if the registration had been conducted in her electoral area and replicated across the country to ensure new applicants are able to go through the process without incurring costs which will likely disenfranchise some applicants in the EC’s limited voter registration exercise.

The court granted her relief and injuncted the process but the Electoral Commissioner and her deputies went ahead to issue notices of the exercise which commences today [September 12].

Ayitah Precious not being satisfied with the blatant disregard of the court’s ruling, went back to the High Court on Monday, September 11 to request that Jean Adukwei Mensa, the Chair of the Commission, along with her two deputies, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey, be cited for contempt of court.

She is also seeking imprisonment for the three EC officials, arguing that any action or conduct to continue the registration process will deny some Ghanaians their right to vote.