The High Court (General Jurisdiction 6) in Accra has dismissed an injunction application filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Joana Gyan Cudjoe, seeking to prevent the Electoral Commission (EC) from printing ballot papers and notices of poll for the Amenfi Central Constituency.
This ruling, delivered on October 31, 2024, stems from the EC’s refusal to recognize Cudjoe as the duly elected NDC parliamentary candidate, despite a prior High Court order from Sekondi on May 31, 2024.
The court upheld the decision of the Electoral Commission stating that the refusal to hold out, deal with in any way, recognize or afford any rights or privileges to Joana Gyan Cudjoe as the duly elected NDC Parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central Constituency was in due compliance with the orders of the High Court, Sekondi made on 31st May, 2024 which is still pending.
The court held that to do otherwise will be in contempt of the pending orders.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on October 17,2024 filed an injunction application seeking to halt the Electoral Commission (EC) from proceeding with the printing of parliamentary ballot papers and notice of poll for the Amenfi Central constituency.
This legal action follows the recent disqualification of their parliamentary candidate, Joana Gyan Cudjoe, by the EC.
The disqualification stems from an interlocutory injunction issued by the Sekondi High Court, which prevents the EC from recognizing Cudjoe as the NDC’s candidate for the upcoming December 7 elections.
The court’s injunction is reportedly related to a pending lawsuit concerning Cudjoe’s eligibility, which has not been resolved or lifted, thereby blocking her from contesting in the parliamentary race.
As a result, the NDC argues that the EC’s continued actions to print ballot papers without resolving the matter would infringe upon the legal process and the rights of their candidate.
In the application, the NDC is requesting the court to issue an order to restrain the EC from printing or distributing ballot materials for Amenfi Central until the legal issues surrounding Cudjoe’s disqualification are fully adjudicated.
