An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Forson Agyapong has adjourned its ruling on the preliminary legal objection by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the New Patriotic Party’s suit (mandamus application) against the four disputed constituencies to 10 A.M on January 1, 2025.
On Friday, December 27, 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Accra High Court violated the rules of natural justice by failing to hear the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) parliamentary candidates from four constituencies before issuing an order.
The Supreme Court noted that the collation and declaration of parliamentary results for Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, Techiman South, and Ablekuma North had already been completed at the time of the High Court’s directive. Consequently, the Supreme Court quashed the High Court’s order for the Electoral Commission (EC) to recollate the results.
The High Court had initially directed the EC to finalize the election process in six constituencies by collating results and declaring winners in line with Ghana’s electoral laws. However, the Supreme Court found this directive unjustifiable for the four constituencies, as it bypassed the due process of giving affected NDC candidates a hearing. This ruling reinforces the principle of fairness in electoral disputes and underscores the importance of adhering to natural justice.
The NDC contested a High Court decision instructing the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-collate parliamentary election results in nine disputed constituencies.
Parliamentary candidates from both the NDC and NPP had filed a writ seeking to compel the EC to conduct fresh elections in these areas, citing irregularities in the collation process and the declaration of winners.
