Nii Armah Ashitey suit ‘dead on arrival’

The interlocutory injunction suit filed against Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings by incumbent Klottey Korle MP, Nii Armah Ashitey, is “dead on arrival”, Dr Rawlings’ Lawyer Godwin Tameklo has said.

Mr Ashitey, has filed a suit praying the High Court to prevent Dr Rawlings from holding herself out as parliamentary candidate-elect for the constituency on the ticket of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Ashitey also sued the NDC and the Electoral Commission (EC) as first and third respondents, with Dr Rawlings being the second.

The MP, who was beaten by former President Jerry Rawlings’ daughter in the NDC’s November 21, 2015 parliamentary primaries, is being represented by Mr Gary Nimako.

A copy of the suit, which is available to ClassFMonline.com said: “This honourable court will be moved by Gary Nimako Marfo ESQ., counsel for and on behalf of plaintiff/applicants herein praying for an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain defendants/respondents, whether by themselves, agents, servants, workmen, hirelings, privies or any person claiming under or through them or howsoever described, from holding out the second defendant/ respondent, [as] the parliamentary candidate-elect for Klottey Korle constituency.”

Mr Ashitey’s suit comes days after Dr Rawlings’ voter eligibility was affirmed by an Accra High Court on Friday January 15.

Three plaintiffs: Joseph Narku Botchway, Jacob Amin, and Reverend Michael Kwabena Nii Adjei Sowah, who are all from the constituency, had filed a suit and prayed the court to declare Dr Rawlings’ election as parliamentary candidate null and void on grounds that she was not an eligible voter.

But the court said the plaintiffs did not demonstrate, with their arguments, how Dr Rawlings’ election violated their rights.

The three, in their suit prayed the court for answers to the following:

1. Whether or not Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings is a registered voter.

2. If so, when was the name entered on the National Biometric Voters’ Register.

3. The name of the Registration Officer.

4. The date of registration.

5. The time on which the name was entered on the roll as shown on the print out.

6. The registration centre name.

7. The registration code.

8. The constituency within which the registration took place.

9. The Voter’s Identify Card number of Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

10. Biometric finger print.

11. The type of identification document used in the registration process.

12. Copies of Form 1C that captured the data.

13. Copies of Voter Register Form 1A

14. Whether Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ name has been publicly exhibited on any provisional Voters’ Register.

15. If so when?

16. Please furnish the Court with the said Voters’ Register.

17. If the registration was during the limited registration period in 2014, a copy of the voter registration identification guarantee form.

18. Copies of the registration team details Form 2A.

19. Please furnish the Court with the final Biometric Voters’ Register showing Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ name.

Similar concerns about Dr Rawlings’ eligibility had been expressed in the past by law firm Safo & Marfo @ Law, who wrote to the Electoral Commission seeking to ascertain whether Dr Rawlings was a registered eligible voter in Ghana.

Despite winning the primary, Dr Rawlings was unable to vote in last year’s polls because her name could not be traced on the register of voters.

That development raised issues about her eligibility as a voter, since the party’s Greater Accra regional chairman, Ade Coker, said the non-existence of one’s name on the register meant that person was not a registered voter since, according to him, the source of the NDC’s register of voters was the national register of the Electoral Commission.

Safo & Marfo @ Law, therefore, wanted the EC to ascertain her electoral eligibility. The private law firm made the following demands:The interlocutory injunction suit filed against Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings by incumbent Klottey Korle MP, Nii Armah Ashitey, is “dead on arrival”, Dr Rawlings’ Lawyer Godwin Tameklo has said.

Mr Ashitey, has filed a suit praying the High Court to prevent Dr Rawlings from holding herself out as parliamentary candidate-elect for the constituency on the ticket of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Ashitey also sued the NDC and the Electoral Commission (EC) as first and third respondents, with Dr Rawlings being the second.

The MP, who was beaten by former President Jerry Rawlings’ daughter in the NDC’s November 21, 2015 parliamentary primaries, is being represented by Mr Gary Nimako.

A copy of the suit, which is available to ClassFMonline.com said: “This honourable court will be moved by Gary Nimako Marfo ESQ., counsel for and on behalf of plaintiff/applicants herein praying for an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain defendants/respondents, whether by themselves, agents, servants, workmen, hirelings, privies or any person claiming under or through them or howsoever described, from holding out the second defendant/ respondent, [as] the parliamentary candidate-elect for Klottey Korle constituency.”

Mr Ashitey’s suit comes days after Dr Rawlings’ voter eligibility was affirmed by an Accra High Court on Friday January 15.

Three plaintiffs: Joseph Narku Botchway, Jacob Amin, and Reverend Michael Kwabena Nii Adjei Sowah, who are all from the constituency, had filed a suit and prayed the court to declare Dr Rawlings’ election as parliamentary candidate null and void on grounds that she was not an eligible voter.

But the court said the plaintiffs did not demonstrate, with their arguments, how Dr Rawlings’ election violated their rights.

The three, in their suit prayed the court for answers to the following:

1. Whether or not Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings is a registered voter.

2. If so, when was the name entered on the National Biometric Voters’ Register.

3. The name of the Registration Officer.

4. The date of registration.

5. The time on which the name was entered on the roll as shown on the print out.

6. The registration centre name.

7. The registration code.

8. The constituency within which the registration took place.

9. The Voter’s Identify Card number of Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

10. Biometric finger print.

11. The type of identification document used in the registration process.

12. Copies of Form 1C that captured the data.

13. Copies of Voter Register Form 1A

14. Whether Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ name has been publicly exhibited on any provisional Voters’ Register.

15. If so when?

16. Please furnish the Court with the said Voters’ Register.

17. If the registration was during the limited registration period in 2014, a copy of the voter registration identification guarantee form.

18. Copies of the registration team details Form 2A.

19. Please furnish the Court with the final Biometric Voters’ Register showing Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ name.

Similar concerns about Dr Rawlings’ eligibility had been expressed in the past by law firm Safo & Marfo @ Law, who wrote to the Electoral Commission seeking to ascertain whether Dr Rawlings was a registered eligible voter in Ghana.

Despite winning the primary, Dr Rawlings was unable to vote in last year’s polls because her name could not be traced on the register of voters.

That development raised issues about her eligibility as a voter, since the party’s Greater Accra regional chairman, Ade Coker, said the non-existence of one’s name on the register meant that person was not a registered voter since, according to him, the source of the NDC’s register of voters was the national register of the Electoral Commission.

Safo & Marfo @ Law, therefore, wanted the EC to ascertain her electoral eligibility. The private law firm made the following demands:

“1. Whether or not Dr. Ezanator (Zanetor) Rawlings is a registered voter within the meaning of Article 94 (1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.”

“2. If so when was her name entered into the electoral register?”

The law firm also wanted a certified true copy of the voter’s register.

The search process initiated by Safo & Marfo came barely 24 hours after news broke of a suit against Dr Rawlings by ex-partner Herbert Mensah for custody over their two daughters.

Speaking to Joy FM, Mr Tameklo said his client was qualified to vote and be voted for, as well as stand as a parliamentary candidate. He said the court will decide whether Mr Ashitey’s suit had merit or not.

“1. Whether or not Dr. Ezanator (Zanetor) Rawlings is a registered voter within the meaning of Article 94 (1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.”

“2. If so when was her name entered into the electoral register?”

The law firm also wanted a certified true copy of the voter’s register.

The search process initiated by Safo & Marfo came barely 24 hours after news broke of a suit against Dr Rawlings by ex-partner Herbert Mensah for custody over their two daughters.

Speaking to Joy FM, Mr Tameklo said his client was qualified to vote and be voted for, as well as stand as a parliamentary candidate. He said the court will decide whether Mr Ashitey’s suit had merit or not.