Democracy and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, Dr John Osae-Kwapong, has described the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the annulment of the Kpandai parliamentary election as both unexpected and reassuring, citing it as evidence of improved handling of electoral disputes in Ghana.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, January 31, Dr Kwapong said he was surprised by the outcome but pleased with the broader implications for electoral justice.
“I didn’t expect that outcome, but I would also say I was pleased, in the sense that when I look at how we have handled disputes about parliamentary elections, there has been progress,” he noted.
He contrasted the ruling with previous disputed parliamentary contests, recalling violent incidents that marred elections such as the Akwatia by-election.
According to him, “There are two elections I can point to, including Akwatia, where there were violent incidents surrounding the numbers and contestations over who was the rightful winner.”
In a 4–1 majority decision, the Supreme Court quashed the High Court’s judgment that had annulled the 2024 parliamentary election results and ordered a rerun in the Kpandai Constituency. The apex court’s ruling halted the planned rerun and affirmed the election of the New Patriotic Party’s candidate, Matthew Nyindam, as the duly elected Member of Parliament.
However, the legal battle may not be over, as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the decision and signalled its intention to seek a review of the judgment.
The move, though rare, is constitutionally permitted and has reignited debate over the threshold for review applications, the interpretation of “glaring error”, and the consistency of judicial decisions in election-related matters.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com