The political landscape of Ghana saw significant developments following a High Court ruling in Accra, which directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to complete the collation of results in several constituencies. This legal intervention brought closure to protracted electoral processes in key areas, including Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, Ablekuma North, and Techiman South, finally declaring definitive winners and solidifying the parliamentary representation for these constituencies. The court’s mandate, with a deadline of January 6, 2025, aimed to rectify the incomplete collation of results, ensuring the accurate reflection of the electorate’s will and upholding the integrity of the democratic process.
In Okaikwei Central, the incumbent Member of Parliament, Patrick Yaw Boamah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), secured a victory, garnering 21,099 votes. His win came after a closely contested race against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Baba Sadiq, who polled 19,368 votes. This result, declared following the court’s intervention, solidified Boamah’s position and confirmed his continued representation of the constituency in parliament. The outcome highlights the competitive political climate in Okaikwei Central and the significant role played by the court’s ruling in finalizing the electoral outcome.
Tema Central also witnessed a closely fought election, with Charles Forson of the NPP emerging victorious after a recount of votes from two outstanding polling stations. Forson secured 18,870 votes, narrowly defeating Ebi Bright of the NDC, who received 18,815 votes. Frederick Aniagyei, another contender in the race, trailed significantly with 209 votes. The final tally, including 144 rejected ballots, totalled 38,038 votes, demonstrating the high voter turnout and the intense competition for the parliamentary seat. Forson’s narrow victory emphasizes the importance of every vote and the significance of the court’s order to ensure all votes were accounted for.
The High Court’s involvement stemmed from mandamus applications filed by NPP candidates. These applications sought to compel the EC to complete its legal duty of collating and declaring the results in constituencies where the process remained incomplete. Justice Forson Agyapong, presiding over the case, underscored the legal principles governing mandamus applications, emphasizing that applicants must demonstrate both the existence of an unfulfilled public duty and the substantial prejudice resulting from the failure to perform that duty. This legal framework provided the basis for the court’s intervention and ensured that the EC adhered to its mandated responsibilities.
The court’s decision in Okaikwei Central hinged on the EC’s failure to include results from all polling stations in its initial declaration. Having declared results based on only 110 out of 141 polling stations, the EC was deemed to have fallen short of its duty. Justice Agyapong’s ruling mandated the inclusion of the missing results before a final declaration could be made. This directive rectified the incomplete process and ensured the accurate representation of the votes cast in all polling stations. The court’s intervention underscores the importance of due process in electoral matters and the judiciary’s role in safeguarding the integrity of elections.
The court identified similar issues in other constituencies, including Tema Central, Ablekuma North, and Techiman South, where incomplete results had been declared. Justice Agyapong’s ruling, therefore, extended to these constituencies, mandating the inclusion of all outstanding polling station results in the final tallies. This comprehensive approach underscores the court’s commitment to ensuring the complete and accurate representation of the electorate’s choices across all affected constituencies. The ruling serves as a significant precedent in upholding electoral integrity and reinforcing the principle of one person, one vote.
