The High Court in Accra has directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-collate and officially declare the results of nine disputed constituencies, overriding any prior declarations.
On Friday, December 20, Justice Rev. Joseph Adu-Owusu Agyeman, presiding over the case, also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide sufficient security for the EC at collation centres to ensure the smooth execution of its constitutional duties.
This ruling stemmed from a judicial review application filed by Gary Nimako Esq., the Legal Affairs Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on behalf of the party’s parliamentary candidates in the affected constituencies.
The candidates requested a mandamus order compelling the Electoral Commission (EC) to complete the collation and declaration of election results in their respective constituencies.
They also sought a directive requiring the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide adequate security at the collation centres to prevent any further disruptions to the process.
The disputed constituencies include Ablekuma North, Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Okaikwei Central, Obuasi East, Ahafo Ano North, Ahafo Ano South West, Tema Central, Dome Kwabenya, and Techiman South.
Of the 12 constituencies flagged for re-collation, the EC has already completed the process for Suhum, Akwatia, and Fanteakwa North.
The EC’s legal team, led by Justine Amenuvor, confirmed receipt of the application and opted not to contest it.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) filed a motion to join the case, but the Court denied the request, ruling that the NDC lacked sufficient grounds to participate.
The EC reported that collation in the disputed constituencies was severely disrupted by large groups of party supporters, halting the process.
For example, in Nsawam-Adoagyiri, only 100 of the 203 polling stations had their results collated before violent disruptions forced a suspension of the process, preventing the declaration of results.
Attempts to resume collation on December 12, 2024, were also interrupted.
Speaking at a press conference on December 19, the EC defended its decision to finalise the process and called on the government to provide adequate security to ensure the completion of collation and the declaration of results.