High Court to rule on NPP’s mandamus application on January 4
High Court to Deliver Ruling on NPP’s Mandamus Application on January 4
The High Court has adjourned the case concerning the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) mandamus application to January 4, 2025, when a final ruling will be delivered. The application relates to unresolved parliamentary election results in Tema Central, Okaikwei Central, Techiman South, and Ablekuma North constituencies.
The adjournment follows the court’s dismissal of an objection by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
NPP’s Submission
The NPP, represented by lead counsel Gary Nimako, argued that the Electoral Commission (EC) had failed to conclude the collation of results for the constituencies since December 8, 2024. Nimako described the delay as unreasonable and stressed that voters in these areas deserve to know the election outcomes.
He further contended that the declarations in the constituencies were invalid because they were made by individuals other than the designated returning officers. Citing Regulation 43 of C.I. 127, Nimako emphasized that results must be properly recorded on Forms 1C and 1D, which were missing in this case.
Electoral Commission’s Support
The EC, represented by Justin Amenuvor, backed the NPP’s position and admitted that the collation of results remained incomplete. Amenuvor called on the court to compel the Commission to complete its duties, warning that failure to do so could encourage irregularities in future elections.
NDC’s Argument
Lawyers for the NDC, led by Godwin Tameklo, opposed the mandamus application. Tameklo argued that a mandamus order requires a prior demand that has been denied, which he claimed had not occurred in this instance.
Referring to video evidence, he maintained that a declaration had already been made in Tema Central and argued that any challenge to the validity of such a declaration should be addressed through an election petition, not a mandamus order.
Ruling Expected on January 4
The High Court’s decision is expected to clarify the responsibilities of the Electoral Commission regarding unresolved collation processes and provide guidance on addressing electoral disputes in such cases.
