The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Peter Kwakye-Ackah, has explained his decision to drop out of the pending December 7, 2024, parliamentary election.
After losing the NDC parliamentary primaries to Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the MP filed to contest in the 2024 polls as an independent candidate.
In a statement sighted by GhanaWeb, Kwakye-Ackah said he decided to step out of the race after the High Court rescinded an injunction barring Gyan Cudjoe from contesting in the parliamentary election.
He added that he is pulling out of the race because his reasons for going independent are no longer viable.
“I wish to inform the good people of Amenfi Central and the general public of my decision to withdraw my independent candidature from the 2024 Amenfi Central Parliamentary election forthwith.
“Pursuant to the decision by the High Court and the Electoral Commission to clear the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for this year’s election, I believe that my reasons for filing to contest the election as an independent candidate are no longer tenable,” he explained.
He added, “I would like to thank the Elders of the party and other leading members of the party for their invaluable counsel that has led to this decision in the supreme interest of the party. Long live the NDC, long live Amenfi Central, long live Ghana.”
Background:
The Sekondi High Court, on November 11, 2024, lifted an earlier injunction placed on Joana Gyan Cudjoe, preventing her from standing as the elected candidate.
The legal dispute began when some dissatisfied individuals filed a lawsuit, securing an interlocutory injunction that temporarily restrained Joana Gyan from presenting herself as the candidate despite her convincing victory in the May 13, 2023, parliamentary primaries.
The NDC’s Functional Executive Committee later annulled the May election and conducted fresh primaries on September 8, 2024, where Joana Gyan Cudjoe emerged victorious once again, with the EC supervising the process.
The party contended that the September election superseded the previous contest, thereby affirming Joana Gyan Cudjoe’s legitimacy as the candidate.
Despite this, the EC disqualified her based on the interlocutory injunction tied to the annulled May 2023 election.
BAI/AE
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