Dafeamekpor’s lawsuit against new EC appointments premature, says Poku-Adusei

The member of parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has dragged the government to the Supreme Court over the appointment of Dr Peter Appiahene and Salima Ahmed Tijani to the electoral commission (EC).

The two were sworn into office together with Rev Akua Ofori Boateng on 20 March, but their appointment was soon followed by A backlash over Appiahene and Tijani’s political affiliation.

Speaking on Asaase News, private legal practitioner, Ralph Adusei said, “My first evaluation of the suit is that it is more or less pre-empting a lot of things, and there is no merit in the suit.

“The lawsuit has been brought at the wrong time, simply because the articles that the lawmaker is replying on must be evidence that the public officer has conducted himself in a way that puts him in that position.

“But in this case, the person has just been appointed. There is no evidence of such conduct, so why then do you go to the Supreme Court to seek a declaration that he’s unfit for the position that he has been appointed.”

Dafeamekpor is demanding, among other things, a perpetual injunction to restrain the two from holding themselves out as members of the EC.

Adusei said, “Anybody is entitled to associate himself with any association of his choice but then, he is pre-empting and suggesting that the person is likely to… You are speaking into the future. You want somebody to be held accountable for what’s in the future, so I think it’s a bit premature to bring the suit.

“The MP doesn’t have a case. You see, when you are going to the Supreme Court, you must have all the evidence. Let him first conduct himself in someway before taking him to court.”