Supreme Court Sides with NDC, Quashes Re-Collated Election Results for Ablekuma North,Tema Central, two others
Ghana's Supreme Court has delivered a landmark verdict, annulling the re-collated parliamentary election results in four key constituencies: Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South. This decision effectively overturns the Electoral Commission's (EC) declarations in these areas.
The ruling comes amidst intense legal and political disputes surrounding the re-collation process. The court's decision highlights the judiciary's crucial role in addressing electoral irregularities and ensuring strict adherence to constitutional and procedural requirements.
In a surprise twist, the court upheld the re-collated results for Nsawam Adoagyiri and Ahafo Ano North, leaving them unaffected by the decision. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) had vehemently opposed the re-collation process, describing it as unlawful and flawed.
Delivering the ruling in Accra on Friday, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, presiding judge noted that “Since the orders which have been brought to be quashed are separate and distinct we have decided to exercise our discretionary power to quash by certiorari having required to the peculiar circumstances of each ruling.
“Consequently, we hereby quash the orders of mandamus made for collation of results by the EC in the following constituencies Okawkwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central and Techiman South,'' he added.
The court's verdict was based on the grounds that the trial judge violated the NDC parliamentary candidates' right to a fair hearing. This decision directly challenges the controversial re-collation conducted by the Electoral Commission and the subsequent declarations for the constituencies in question.
Despite the annulment, the mandamus application remains active and is scheduled to be heard by the High Court on Tuesday, December 31.
Source: Florence Kyei /Lead News Online
