Supreme Court Rules In Favour of Zanetor Rawlings

Dr Zanetor Rawlings

The Supreme Court has by a majority decision ruled in favour of Parliamentary aspirant Dr Zanetor Rawlings whose candidature has been challenged by incumbent Member of Parliament Nii Armah Ashitey.

By a 4-1 decision, the judges ruled Dr Rawlings did nothing wrong in contesting for the Korle Klottey Parliamentary seat even though she was not a registered voter.

They averred it is only when the Electoral Commission accepts the candidature of person before his or her status as a registered voter can be scrutinized.

Dr Rawlings won the Parliamentary primaries held last year but the incumbent MP contested the victory at the High Court, claiming the daughter of former president was not a registered voter before contesting the primaries.

He cited Article 94(1)(a)  which in part states: "Subject to the provisions of this article, a person shall not be qualified to be a Member of Parliament (MP) unless; (a) he is a citizen of Ghana, has attained the age of twenty-one years and is a registered voter."

The High Court upheld the decision of the applicant but lawyers of Dr Rawlings proceeded to the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the lower court.

Godwin Tamakloe, who is Counsel for Dr Rawlings argued the High Court judge had no jurisdiction and did not have the power to interpret Article 94.

He prayed the court to quash the decision by Justice Kwaku T. Ackah Boafo.

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Source: Myjoyonline.com