Court Grants Mandamus for Tema Central, Directs EC to Complete Collation of Two Polling Stations

Accra, Ghana - 04 Jan, 2025 - A High Court ruling has ordered the Electoral Commission to finalize the collation of results in Tema Central, one of four constituencies at the center of a heated electoral dispute.

The decision comes after the New Patriotic Party filed a mandamus application, arguing that the EC had failed to complete the collation process within the required timeframe.

The other affected constituencies include Okaikwei Central, Techiman South, and Ablekuma North.

The ruling is a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Ghana's parliamentary elections. Initially, the EC had declared Ebi Bright of the National Democratic Congress the winner in Tema Central, but a re-collation of results later saw Charles Forson of the NPP take the lead.

The EC has cited threats to its staff in Tema Central as a factor in the delay, but the court's decision is seen as a major victory for the NPP. The party's legal team, led by Gary Nimako, had argued that the EC's failure to complete the collation process was a clear breach of its statutory obligations.

In addition to the ruling, the court has also ordered the Inspector General of Police to provide adequate security to ensure the collation process is completed without disruption. The move is aimed at preventing any further delays or disputes over the electoral process.

However, the National Democratic Congress has challenged the court's jurisdiction to hear the application, arguing that the EC's decision to re-collate results was unlawful. The party's objections were dismissed by the court, paving the way for the EC to finalize the collation process.

Source: Lead News Online