An Accra High Court has dismissed an interlocutory injunction application filed by the Action People’s Party (APP) seeking to halt the Akwatia by-election scheduled for September 2, 2025.
The APP, together with its parliamentary candidate David Ankomah, challenged the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to disqualify Ankomah from contesting the by-election.
The party argued that the EC provided insufficient notice for Ankomah to present a valid tax clearance certificate, describing the disqualification as wrongful and tainted by “malice and fraud.”
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However, according to a report by 3news.com, presiding judge Justice Eugene Nyadu Nyantei, in his ruling on Thursday, August 28, 2025, held that granting the injunction would not only affect the EC but also disrupt the participation of other candidates in the by-election.
He emphasised that the dismissal was necessary to ensure fairness to all parties.
Justice Nyantei further noted that the substantive suit filed by the APP, which seeks to compel the EC to reinstate Ankomah’s candidacy, could still proceed. He added that certain aspects of the case may require interpretation by the Supreme Court.
The APP’s legal action, filed on August 22, 2025, sought an order restraining the EC from excluding Ankomah’s name from the ballot and a perpetual injunction against actions deemed harmful to his candidacy or the party’s interests.
The party contended that Ankomah had been validly nominated and had met all requirements, including tax clearance obligations, but was unjustly disqualified by the EC.
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The Akwatia by-election was triggered by the death of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi, in July 2025 after a short illness.
Kumi, a first-term MP, won the seat in the December 2024 general elections with 19,269 votes, defeating his closest rival from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Henry Yiadom Boakye, who secured 17,206 votes.
With the court’s dismissal of the injunction, the EC is expected to proceed with the by-election as scheduled on September 2, 2025, to fill the vacant parliamentary seat.
Both the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress have fielded candidates, setting the stage for a closely contested race.
GA/MA
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