SPECIAL COURTS TO DEAL WITH ELECTORAL DISPUTES

THE Judicial Service will designate specific courts to deal with election disputes that may arise before and after the December 7, 2008 elections.
According to the service, it had a role to play in ensuring a peaceful post-and pre-election period.
It, therefore, indicated its preparedness to quickly dispose of electoral disputes that might arise before and after the December 7, 2008 elections.
Responding to a questionnaire prepared by the Daily Graphic on plans to contribute to a peaceful elections, the Judicial Service said there were 19 election petitions currently pending at various courts in seven regions across the country, except the three northern regions.
It said the Greater Accra Region was the region that had most of the election dispute cases.
According to the service, 12 of the 19 cases pending at the courts were filed this year, while three were filed in 2007.
The questionnaire, which was answered by a Deputy Judicial Secretary, Mr Abdullah Iddrisu, further explained that four of the electoral-related cases were filed in 2006, while one was filed in 2005.
It further explained that the quick or slow disposal of electoral disputes depended on the co-operation of the parties in a matter, and said an electoral case could be disposed of between one and four weeks with the co-operation of both parties.
The Judicial Service said getting the co-operation of both parties to commit to a speedy disposal of cases was one of the challenges facing the Judiciary.
The service further explained that the idea of establishing designated courts to deal with electoral disputes was quite feasible.

DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2008
STORY PUBLISHED A WEEK AFTER SUBMISSION, INTERVIEW WITH PROF KOFI QUASHIGAH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA CUT OUT.