There was tension at the Electoral Commission (EC) office today as security personnel prevented court bailiffs from delivering legal documents to the EC commissioners.
Security officers stationed at the premises, located opposite the Kofi Annan ICT Centre near parliament, claimed that they had received specific instructions to deny access to anyone until the upcoming week.
This makes it the third day since the Commissioners have in a bizarre manner evaded service.
“They are not admitting anybody into the EC promises. That is the message we have been getting. They have told us that if we want to serve anybody we have to call the person personally, for the person to either come out to come and receive the process,” one of the lawyers who accompanied the bailiffs told the media.
This incident is linked to legal action initiated by Ayitah Precious, a resident of Otsebleku near Afienya in the Greater Accra Region, who filed a lawsuit on September 12th.
Precious’s lawyers allege contempt of court by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, and Deputy Chairman Bossman Asare in relation to the ongoing limited voter registration dispute.
In her sworn affidavit, Ayitah Precious voiced concerns about the limited voter registration exercise. She highlighted that the Electoral Commission had announced the start of the exercise at its district offices nationwide.
However, Precious, residing approximately 44.3 kilometers from the EC’s district office in Prampram, cited logistical and financial difficulties in traveling to the district office for registration.
As a result, Precious filed an originating motion on notice in the High Court in Tema, along with an interlocutory injunction application aimed at halting the Electoral Commission’s limited voter registration exercise.
Despite serving the injunction application on the Electoral Commission, the institution proceeded with preparations for the registration exercise, as confirmed by a press release issued on September 11, 2023, which announced the exercise’s start date.
Lead counsel for the plaintiff, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo is not enthused by the development.
“The Electoral Commission is a public place. Under what circumstance does Madam Jean Mensa believe that she has the audacity and the right to prevent court processes or court bailiffs from entering the public institution to effects service,” he said on Joy FM.
The lawyer added that he would go back to court to trigger the next step in the legal process.
