Audio By Carbonatix
Eminent Jurist and chair of the Law Review Commission, Professor Justice Vincent Charles Richard Arthur Cyril Crabbe has expressed his disagreement with calls to set time limits for election petition cases.
In reference to the Kenyan example in which the Supreme Court quickly ruled on that country’s election petition in a record 14 days, Prof. VCRAC Crabbe, said evidence turned up after the verdict of the court, “ might have changed things”.
Vice President Amissah Arthur recently suggested a six-week time frame for settling and determining subsequent election petition cases and uncertainties that may emerge
Speaking on Tarzan’s Take on Multi TV, Justice Crabbe said the only way to have ample time to deal with election disputes, is to adhere to the constitution which stipulates that general elections should be held, four clear months before swearing-in a new President and three clear months before dissolution of parliament.
“The constitution itself pre-supposes that you could have a challenge which could over-run the period, so there is a provision in the constitution, that if an election is upset, whatever the President had done remains valid”, he stressed.
He is happy that the case went to court, in order to test the law, as was done in 1969 when the election of Edward Akufo Addo was challenged just as that of John Mahama has been challenged in 2012.
He urged political parties to agree in principle on the best ways forward ahead of the next elections, agreeing with assertions that Ghana’s elections are generally transparent and all-inclusive.
The problem however, according to him, is how to make the system operational and more effective to avoid disputes.
His views on Tarzan’s Take, were that most of the electoral problems we have as a country exist because governments lack the political will to enforce the law. He added that even in the absence of law, we fail to enforce conventions.
On the Inter- Part Advisory Committee (IPAC), made up of representatives of the various political parties in the country, he is of the view that there is a lot of mistrust amongst members and bemoans such a situation, considering the fact that issues discussed are fundamental to the welfare and governance of Ghanaians.
Justice Crabbe questioned “how often is it in the open for people to appreciate that politicians have been working together to evolve the system to make democracy work”, as against negative news of politicians being at each other’s throat.
He called for a critical look at CI75 and how far it complies with law because the constitution itself provides that “you have to be registered to vote, which means if your name is on the register, you are entitled to vote, so where does biometric come in, which became an issue
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
GPL 2026/27: Medeama ease past Basake Holy Stars
10 minutes -
Appiah Adomako writes: Why DVLA must stop treating every expired licence holder as delinquent
14 minutes -
Localization must transfer decision-making power, not just project responsibilities
23 minutes -
Modernising Ghana’s traditional markets through the 24-Hour Economy markets initiative
26 minutes -
New economy will boost local production and create jobs – Finance Minister
31 minutes -
Real-Time VAT on cross-border digital services – not a new tax and does not violate double taxation principle
1 hour -
Digitalisation, AI key to Ghana’s tourism transformation – GHATOF
2 hours -
Stronger GTA-private sector partnership needed to grow tourism – GHATOF
2 hours -
Amazon eyes Ghana for broadband expansion after talks with Mahama
2 hours -
National Investment Quiz 2026: Six schools qualify for quarter-finals
3 hours -
‘Do not let Russia pay for its madness with lives of your people’ – Zelensky to Ghana, 46 other countries
3 hours -
6,079 promotion cases fully processed and paid – CAGD says amid nationwide teachers’ strike
3 hours -
Teacher unions to meet government Monday over nationwide strike
4 hours -
Photo story: Republic Bank-JoyNews Habitat Fair clinic wraps up after three days of housing solutions, expert engagement
4 hours -
National Peace Council urges investment in youth to sustain Ghana’s peace
4 hours