The High Court will rule on the NPP’s mandamus request concerning electoral disputes in four constituencies. The decision will clarify the Electoral Commission’s duties and provide guidance on resolving the disputes.
Today, Saturday, January 4, 2025, the High Court will deliver its ruling on a mandamus application filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding electoral disputes in four constituencies: Tema Central, Okaikwei Central, Techiman South, and Ablekuma North.
This application follows the court’s earlier dismissal of an objection by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which had challenged the court’s jurisdiction over the matter.
The NPP’s legal team, led by Gary Nimako, argued that the Electoral Commission (EC) should be compelled to complete the collation of results in these constituencies. Nimako highlighted that the EC failed to finalise the collation process between December 8, 2024, and January 1, 2025, a delay he described as unreasonable. He emphasised that voters in the affected areas have the right to know the outcome of the elections.
Countering the NDC’s claim that declarations had already been made, Nimako pointed out that no evidence, such as Forms 1C and 1D required by Regulation 43 of C.I. 127, had been presented to validate these declarations. He also argued that video evidence presented by the NDC showed a declaration in Tema Central made by someone other than the returning officer, breaching electoral laws.
The Electoral Commission, represented by Justin Amenuvor, supported the NPP’s application, acknowledging that the collation processes in the four constituencies remained incomplete. Amenuvor warned that failing to order the EC to complete its duty could set a dangerous precedent for future elections.
On the other hand, the NDC’s lawyers, led by Godwin Tameklo, opposed the application. Tameklo argued that a mandamus could only be granted if a prior demand had been refused, which he claimed was not the case here. He maintained that any challenge to the validity of the Tema Central declaration should be addressed through a petition, not a mandamus.
The court’s decision is expected to clarify the Electoral Commission’s obligations in resolving the disputes in the affected constituencies.
