2024 elections: EC cites court injunction as basis for disqualification of Amenfi Central NDC Parliamentary candidate

The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially disqualified Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Amenfi Central Constituency, from contesting in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

This decision, outlined in a letter dated October 10, follows a High Court injunction issued in May this year, restraining her from holding herself out as the duly elected candidate.

According to the EC, the injunction, which was granted in relation to a lawsuit filed by Gyedu Frimpong and four others, has not been vacated.

As a result, the Commission is bound by the court’s ruling, disqualifying Madam Joana from participating in the parliamentary race.

The Deputy Chairman of Operations at the EC, Samuel Tettey, explained the Commission’s decision in the letter, stating, “The said Order has neither been stayed nor vacated, hence the Commission is bound by the same.”

He added, “We write to inform you that you have been disqualified from standing as a candidate for election to Parliament in your constituency.”

The injunction stems from internal party disputes surrounding the legitimacy of Madam Joana’s candidacy.

The petitioners had contested the results of the NDC’s primaries in Amenfi Central, leading the party leadership to annul the initial election and organize fresh primaries which she won.

NDC Leadership Responds
In response to the EC’s decision, the leadership of the NDC in Amenfi Central held a press conference on October 15, accusing the EC of acting in bad faith and working in collaboration with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to undermine their candidate.

“We are reliably informed that Dr. Bossman Asare and Fuseini Adonis Kweku, in concert with the NPP, are planning a diabolical means of disqualifying our candidate from contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections,” the NDC’s statement alleged.

They further emphasized their determination to resist the EC’s decision, warning that “should they carry through this their diabolical plans, there will be no elections in Amenfi Central.”

The party leadership expressed frustration with what they perceive as a lack of fairness in the process, especially since the EC had previously accepted Joana Gyan Cudjoe’s nomination without issue.

“Madam Joana successfully filed her nomination with the EC without any problem whatsoever and was subsequently introduced to the general public by the EC Returning Officer for Amenfi Central as the NDC validly filed parliamentary candidate,” they stated.