Re-collation: Supreme Court quashes results in four key constituencies

The Supreme Court has annulled the re-collated parliamentary election results for Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South, overturning the Electoral Commission’s (EC) declarations for these constituencies.

The ruling, delivered amidst intense legal and political controversies surrounding the re-collation process, emphasizes the judiciary’s crucial role in addressing electoral irregularities and upholding constitutional procedures.

While annulling results in these four constituencies, the court upheld the re-collated outcomes for Nsawam Adoagyiri and Ahafo Ano South West, affirming the legitimacy of the process in those areas.

The judgment follows a legal challenge by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against a High Court order issued on December 20, which directed the EC to re-collate results in nine contested constituencies.

The EC complied with the directive in seven constituencies, all of which were initially declared victories for New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidates.

However, issues surrounding the results for Dome/Kwabenya and Ablekuma North remain unresolved.

The NDC has consistently criticized the re-collation process as unlawful, accusing the High Court of overstepping its jurisdiction and undermining electoral integrity.

Delivering the decision in Accra, presiding Justice Gabriel Pwamang stated: “Since the orders brought for quashing are separate and distinct, we have exercised our discretionary power to quash by certiorari, taking into account the unique circumstances of each case. Consequently, we hereby quash the orders of mandamus for re-collation by the EC in Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South.”

This ruling is expected to carry significant political repercussions, with stakeholders and constituents closely watching how the process unfolds in the affected constituencies.