Baba Sadiq, speaking to the media, Ebi Bright (dressed in white standing behind Baba Sadiq)
The Supreme Court of Ghana, on December 27, 2024, quashed the ruling of the High Court, which ordered the Electoral Commission of Ghana to re-collate and re-declare four parliamentary seats initially declared in favour of the NDC.
This decision came after the Supreme Court of Ghana heard an application by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) challenging the recent declaration and re-declaration of the parliamentary election results of nine constituencies that were in dispute.
Following the court ruling, key party caucus members, including the affected parliamentary candidates, responded to the developments.
Among them was one of the lawyers of the NDC, who doubles as the party’s director of legal affairs, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe.
According to him, the party is grateful to the court for the ruling.
Speaking after the court proceedings on Friday, December 27, 2024, he stated, “The only thing I want to say is that we are grateful to the court and nothing else. Merry Christmas.”
Baba Sadiq, the NDC candidate for Okaikwei Central, whose seat is among those being challenged, added, “The law has spoken. Earlier, I told you that we were optimistic and hopeful that the true mandate of the people would still stand. We are grateful to the court for heeding our request. The law has spoken. Merry Christmas and a happy new year.”
The candidate for Tema Central, Ebi Bright, also said, “Our belief in the law has borne its fruit. We are happy to continue. I think it is important that everybody understands that this is just the beginning of our work. This experience equips us to represent all our people a lot better, and we are very grateful for the opportunity.”
Ewurabena Aubynn, from the Ablekuma North Constituency, also commented, “Well, I think it is a good day for the country. The whole world is watching, not just Ghana. So, I think it is just the beginning of us coming together as one people. I think it redeems the image of our court and the judges. So, it is all well and good.”
Background
The Electoral Commission, on Friday, December 20, 2024, went ahead with the recount and continued collation of the parliamentary election results of nine constituencies for the just-ended 2024 general election despite opposition by the NDC.
Before the re-collation and re-declaration exercise, the NDC claimed it had acquired a court order that barred the EC from going on with the declaration, which had been properly served on the commission.
The party has held the position that the electoral laws of the country state that once election results are declared, the only way they can be challenged is in the courts.
After the exercises on Saturday, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidates in seven of the constituencies whose processes were completed by the EC were declared winners.
Four seats, which were initially declared for the NDC, namely Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, and Techiman South, were re-declared in favour of the NPP.
The Obuasi East seat, which was initially declared for NDC’s Samuel Aboagye, was re-declared for NPP’s Patrick Boakye-Yiadom; the Tema Central seat, which was declared for NDC’s Ebi Bright, was re-declared for NPP’s Charles Forson.
Also, the Techiman South seat was re-declared for NPP’s Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah after it had been initially declared for Christopher Beyere Baasongti, and the Okaikwei Central seat was re-declared for NPP’s Dr. Patrick Boamah after it was initially declared for NDC’s Baba Sadiq.
The Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, and Ahafo Ano North constituencies, which were initially incomplete, were also declared in favour of the NPP’s Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh, and Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah, respectively.
Two constituencies – Ablekuma North and Dome Kwabenya – are, however, yet to be determined.
For the Ablekuma North Constituency, NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn was declared the winner of the constituency’s seat without the results of 62 polling stations.
The NPP’s candidate for the constituency is Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, a former MP and the current Deputy Chief Executive of the Coastal Development Authority.
For Dome Kwabenya, NDC’s Elikplim Akurugu was declared the winner of the constituency’s seat, beating NPP’s Mike Oquaye Jnr.
Lawyers of the NDC and their Parliamentary Candidates react to Supreme Court ruling quashing the High Court’s order to EC authorizing it to collate and declare results…#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork#GHOneTV #NewsAlert#CAFShouldPaySpiky pic.twitter.com/8514rgALiG
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) December 27, 2024
AM/GA
Watch some videos from the recent Parliamentary sittings below:
