The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) is bracing itself up to cite the Electoral Commission for contempt after the latter accepted the party’s filing fees of GHc50,000.
According the chairman of the Party, Nii Allotey Brew Hammond, a case would be made in court to that effect latest by close of day tomorrow – Tuesday.
The EC astounded everyone when its Chairperson Charlotte Osei accepted the fees when she has indeed rejected that of other political parties because of a court injunction brought against the commission.
The PPP said it secured injunction against the acceptance of the filling fees because its process was flawed in law. He also explained that they did not go to court because the amount was too high but to challenge the failure of the EC to back the filing fees with a statutory instrument.
Many, including astute lawyers, have condemned the PPP for offering to pay the amount when they themselves took the issue to court.
Persons who have commented on it believe the PPP could be liable for contempt of court.
But the PPP think the contempt should rather play in their favour.
“If you read the injunction it stipulates that the fees must not be collected. The fees must not be collect. That is the injunction, and that onus lies on the EC not to collect,” Mr. Brew Hammond told Martin Asiedu-Dartey on TV3 Midday Live on Monday.
He parried criticisms that they are to blame for offering to pay in the first place, maintaining that the “injunction did not preclude us from offering”.
“Even if we were to accept a set up, is there a law against a set up?” he downplayed accusations against his party, explaining that if the party had not asked the EC to return the fees, they could be blamed for a set up.
The party chairman admitted that he was “surprised” the EC boss refused to give him back the banker’s draft of 50,000 cedis when he requested for it.
“We are hoping that the lawyers will put all their acts together and by tomorrow [the PPP will file the contempt suit]” he said.
By Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana