“Supreme Court Cancels Re-Collated Election Results for Techiman south and 3 other Constituencies

The Supreme Court has annulled the re-collated parliamentary election results for Techiman South, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central, effectively overturning the Electoral Commission’s (EC) declarations for these constituencies. This decision follows significant legal and political controversy surrounding the re-collation process.

However, the court upheld the re-collated results for Nsawam Adoagyiri and Ahafo Ano North, leaving the outcomes for these constituencies unchanged.

This ruling underscores the judiciary’s crucial role in addressing electoral irregularities and ensuring that constitutional and procedural standards are followed.

The decision came after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) challenged a High Court ruling from December 20, which had instructed the EC to re-collate results in nine disputed constituencies.

To date, the EC has carried out this directive in seven constituencies, all of which were won by New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidates. However, the results for Dome/Kwabenya and Ablekuma North remain unresolved.

The NDC has strongly opposed the re-collation process, calling it unlawful and flawed. The party argues that the High Court overstepped its authority, compromising the transparency and integrity of the election.

In delivering the ruling on Friday in Accra, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, the presiding judge, stated that “Since the orders to be quashed are separate and distinct, we have decided to exercise our discretionary power to quash by certiorari, based on the unique circumstances of each case.”

As a result, the court annulled the mandamus orders that required the EC to re-collate results in Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South.

The court also ruled that the NDC parliamentary candidates’ right to a fair hearing was violated during the High Court proceedings.

This judgment directly challenges the re-collation process conducted by the EC and the subsequent declarations in the affected constituencies.

The court clarified that, despite the annulment, the mandamus application is still active and will be heard by the High Court on Tuesday, December 31.