Court dismisses Dan Lartey's application

Page 3: Daily Graphic, December 3, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE ACCRA Fast Track High Court yesterday dismissed an application for certiorari and mandamus filed by Mr Dan Lartey of the Great Consolidated Peoples Party (GCPP) to quash the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) of October 17, 2008 not to accept his nomination papers that could make it possible for him to contest the December 7 presidential election.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice K. A. Ofori-Atta, noted that Mr Lartey failed to fulfil the requirements of the electoral law to contest as a presidential candidate.
It noted that Mr Lartey also failed to produce the statutory declaration and tax clearance certificates to support his application, as well as failed to get two people from each of the district assemblies to endorse his application forms.
Mr Justice Ofori-Atta said Mr Lartey, in his application forms, failed to give his residential address and the name of his polling station.
According to him, Mr Lartey knew at the time of submitting his application forms that the forms were incomplete.
The court, therefore, awarded costs of GH¢1,500 against Mr Lartey.
Mr Lartey was represented by Mr B. B. Quaye, while Mr James Quashie-Idun represented the EC.
The Leader of the GCPP had asked the court to overturn the EC’s decision to disqualify him from contesting the election as a presidential candidate.
He was of the view that the EC had no right to disqualify him from contesting the presidential election.