L-R: Adjei-Frimpong, Henry Anthony Kwofie, Ernest Yao Gaewu and Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu
The Supreme Court has received praise from Ghanaians, particularly supporters and members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for overturning a High Court ruling that ordered the Electoral Commission of Ghana to re-collate and re-declare four parliamentary seats initially awarded to the NDC.
The apex court made the decision on Friday, December 27, 2024, following an application by the NDC challenging the recent declaration and redeclaration of the parliamentary election results of nine (9) constituencies that were in dispute.
Some Ghanaians expected the NDC’s application to be dismissed before the ruling, citing previous incidents. However, the court’s decision shocked party sympathizers when a five-member panel ruled in favour of the NDC.
The five justices have since received praise from a large section of the public, with many asserting that the ruling will restore trust and redeem the image of the apex court and the justice system in the country.
Here are the five justices who overruled the order for the recollation of the constituencies that were ruled in favour of the NDC.
1. Justice Gabriel Pwamang
Justice Pwamang chaired the panel of justices during the Supreme Court’s sitting. He has been a justice of the apex court since 2015 when he was nominated by then-former President John Dramani Mahama based on the recommendation of the Judicial Council of Ghana.
Before his appointment to the bench, he was a private legal practitioner and the managing partner of Pwamang and Associates.
2. Justice Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu
Justice Mensa-Bonsu was nominated by President Nana Akufo-Addo in May 2020 and was later approved by Parliament after receiving recommendations from the Appointments Committee.
3. Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu
Yao Gaewu, nominated by Akufo-Addo, served as a constituency chairman and parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party in the Ho West and Ho Central constituencies.
He resigned from politics after being appointed as a High Court judge in September 2020.
He was sworn into office as a Supreme Court justice in April 2023, becoming the first judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court directly from the High Court since 1980.
4. Justice Henry Anthony Kwofie
Justice Kwofie was also nominated by President Akufo-Addo in July 2023 upon advice from the Judicial Council in consultation with the Council of State.
Kwofie was sworn into office together with the two other nominees by President Akufo-Addo on 3rd January 2024.
5. Justice Adjei-Frimpong
Justice Adjei-Frimpong was nominated by President Akufo-Addo together with two other judges (Henry Anthony Kwofie and Yaw Darko Asare), who were then Court of Appeal judges.
He was sworn into office on January 3, 2024. He holds several accolades, including the S.Y. Bimpong-Buta Award for Best Student in the Interpretation of Deeds and Statutes in 1998, as well as an Award for Patriotic Service to the Country and Humanity in 2019.
Background
The Electoral Commission, on Friday, December 20, 2024, went ahead with the recount and continued collation of the parliamentary election results of 9 constituencies for the just-ended 2024 general election despite opposition by the National Democratic Congress.
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.
MAG/BB
