Bernard Mornah drags EC to court over disqualification from presidential race

Accra, Ghana - Bernard Anbataayela Mornah, the flagbearer of the People's National Convention (PNC), has taken the Electoral Commission (EC) to court over his disqualification from the upcoming December presidential elections.

Mornah was one of 11 presidential aspirants disqualified due to errors on their nomination forms.

However, he strongly disputes this decision, claiming it's a breach of his rights, illegal, and failed to comply with due process requirements imposed by law.

Mornah's lawsuit seeks a declaration that the EC's decision was unjust and demands an order compelling the commission to reinstate him as a candidate.

He also wants the court to stop the EC from printing presidential ballot papers or proceeding with the elections until his nomination is reinstated.

The EC, led by Chairperson Jean Mensa, explained that Mornah's disqualification stemmed from issues with his nomination documents, including incomplete details of supporters, using registered voters from one district to support his nomination in other districts, and varying signatures for the same supporters.

 “Mr Bernard Mornah also had incomplete details of supporters. He also used registered voters in a particular district to support the nomination in other districts. His form also contained varying signatures for the same supporters and in some cases the same signature for different supporters. The committee was of the view that he be disqualified,” she stated.

 However, Mornah argues that he corrected the errors on his nomination form but never received feedback from the EC until his disqualification was announced.

He is therefore demanding “An order of mandamus compelling the 2nd respondent to declare the 1st applicant as duly nominated to contest the 2024 public presidential elections.”

“An order restraining the 1st and 2nd respondents from printing the presidential ballot papers or carrying on with the December 7, 2024 Public Presidential Elections until 1st Applicant is declared duly nominated candidate of the 2nd applicant and allowed to contest the said elections.”

Source :Lead News Online