The Electoral Commission has disqualified Mrs Joana Gyan from running on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket for the Amenfi Central parliamentary contest.
The election administration organization claims that this action is in accordance with a Sekondi High Court ruling of interlocutory injunction.
“The Commission’s attention has been drawn to an Order for Interlocutory Inquest dated 31st May, 2024 in respect of a suit entitled Gyedu Frimpong & 4 Others Vrs Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the National Democratic Congress & the Electoral Commission (Suit No. E12/36/24) by the High Court, Sekondi,” the Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Operations wrote.
He said the court directed the relevant parties to be restricted as follows until the matter’s ultimate decision:
a) The first defendant or respondent for posing herself as the legitimately elected NDC parliamentary candidate for the Amenfi Central Constituency.
b) The second and third defendants or respondents, their agents and officials for holding out, handled in any manner, acknowledged or granted any rights or privileges as the lawfully elected NDC Parliamentary Candidate for the Amenfi Central Constituency.
Joana Gyan Dismissed by EC for contesting
The stated Order has neither been stayed nor revoked hence the Commission is bound by same. In this regard, Mr Tettey said, you have been disqualified from standing as a candidate for election to Parliament in your Constituency.
Background
Following her triumphant victory in May, 2024 some party members questioned the validity of Joana Cudjoe Gyan, wife of well-known singer Keche, to represent the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as its Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for Amenfi Central.
They asked the Electoral Commission (EC) not to proceed with PC form processing. The petitioners claim that no Court of competent authority has reversed the May 31, 2024 order of the Sekondi High Court.
Pursuing the resolution of the lawsuit, the plaintiffs filed a request praying the court for an interlocutory injunction barring the PC from publicly declaring herself as the elected candidate for the constituency.
The plaintiffs said in their statement of claim that Ms. Gyan was not qualified to be elected as the PC at the time of her nomination and election.
Her election as NDC PC was in violation of the NDC Constitution, its election regulations, and also national legislation.
According to the plaintiffs, a person should have been an active member of the NDC in the constituency level for not less than four years directly before the date of nomination, per the constitution of the party.
They said that the active NDC member need to also be a card-bearing, good-standing party member who has paid full party membership dues.
The plaintiffs further pointed out that Ms. Gyan was not even a registered voter at the time she submitted her nomination, contested and was elected as the PC in addition to not satisfying the qualifications indicated.
Keeping in line with the case Allegedly acting against the party, several of the constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were suspended from the Amenfi Central constituency in the Western Region.
The party has also called Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, the present NDC MP for Amenfi Central, before the Political Committee.
Although the party provided no justification for the choice, it is said that some of the executives behind the motion filed at Sekondi High to restrict the NDC Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for Amenfi Central, Joana Cudjoe Gyan from holding herself out as the duly elected NDC candidate.
The party once more demanded a rerun of the poll after annuling the parliamentary primary held on May 13, 2023 in the Amenfi Central constituency.
The Functional Executive Committee of the party decided at a Tuesday, September 3, 2024 conference.
Following the contest of the election in court by some party members seeking the annulment of the main election results and an order for a repeat of the election over the eligibility of the winner Joana Ghansah Cudjoe, wife of artist Keche, comes the annulment.
Joana’s party membership is now in question given claims of fabrication.
The NDC’s decision to nullify the election and hold new primary preempted the High Court in Sekondi’s decision, even though the court had been hearing the case.
Declared in a September 4, 2024, press release, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC, said the party had chosen to open fresh nominations for the behavior of new primary in the Amenfi Central seat.
Following a series of meetings with the current member of parliament Kwakye Ackah and parliamentary candidates Joana Gyan Cudjoe decided to have re-run five persons picked forms to challenge the seat but three of them withdrew from the race leaving just two candidates.
Joana Gyan was re-elected as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for Amenfi Central by acclamation following their vetting process; the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and her challenger, Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah withdrew from the race on Saturday.
For the acclamation, 1,430 delegates in all were present.
As an independent candidate for the forthcoming elections, Amenfi Central Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, the current Member of Parliament, has in fact begun campaigning. Following his withdrawal from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries, this unexpected action follows from his citing of unjust party treatment.
Apparently, Kwakye-Ackah felt the NDC’s support of his opponent, Joana Cudjoe Gyan, was unfair, particularly following the court order against the first primary election. He voiced his discontent, saying the party ought to have let everyone have a fair shot at competing.
Posters of Kwakye-Ackah have thus begun to show up, supporting his autonomous candidacy. Although the Minority caucus has petitioned to have his position declared empty, Kwakye-Ackah is unconcerned and emphasizes his new road forward.