NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Cape Coast North, Dr Kwamena Mintah Nyarku is yet to receive his voter ID from the Electoral Commission.

This is despite a ruling by an Accra High court compelling the EC to register him because no court of competent jurisdiction had disabled him from registering and voting.

Dr Mintah Nyarku’s card was withheld by the EC following a successful challenge by an agent at Nkanfoa where he registered.

He subsequently took the case to court and had a ruling in his favor, but while refusing to return his card, the EC office in Cape Coast explained that they are just to receive an order from the national head office.

Dr Mintah Nyarku who returned to Cape Coast with a crowd, left the EC's office disappointed.

He told JoyNews, he had been hopeful that the issue would be resolved to enable him to file his nomination to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections on the ticket of the NDC.

Background

On July 16, Dr. Mintah Nyarku went to register at the Nkanfoa polling station but was challenged on grounds that the house number he produced did not belong to him.

According to the EC, he did not satisfy the resident and permanent resident conditions that qualify someone to register in a particular electoral area.

The EC subsequently withdrew his card after the District Registration Review committee ordered for the ID to be kept.

In view of this, the candidate exercised his right to appeal the decision by the Chief Registration Review Officer at the Cape Coast High Court.

Kwamena Mintah Nyarku lost the appeal subsequently but the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh stated explicitly that his right to register and to vote under Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution has not been curtailed.

The Court further stated that the candidate could, in fact, register in the electoral area if his residence is located.

The affidavit filed by the candidate at the Accra High Court indicated that the Chief Registration Review Officer in Cape Coast notwithstanding dismissing his appeal clearly indicated in her decision on page 12 that the candidate’s right to register and to vote had not been curtailed.

Based on that conclusion, and in accordance with article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, he applied to the EC demanding to be registered as a voter at the Pedu Electoral Area where he is a resident.

The High Court in Accra on Tuesday granted the mandamus application compelling the Electoral Commission to register the candidate