In a dramatic turn of events surrounding the parliamentary elections in Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Amenorpe Philbert Fummey, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, has taken legal action against the Electoral Commission (EC). He is requesting the Accra High Court to nullify the results and order a fresh election in the constituency.
The lawsuit comes amidst mounting tension and allegations of irregularities in the collation process. Mr. Fummey's grievances, filed on December 13, 2024, through his lawyer and NDC Legal Director, Godwin Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo, highlight discrepancies in the collation process and accuse the EC of using incomplete or invalid pink sheets to tabulate results.
Collation Process Marred by Alleged Disruptions
According to the plaintiff, chaos ensued during the collation process when individuals he claims were affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stormed the collation center and destroyed some of the pink sheets. At the time of the incident, Mr. Fummey alleges that he and his team had successfully collated results from 118 out of 203 polling stations. Following the attack, he was left with only 137 pink sheets, while the EC reportedly confirmed it had approximately 80% of the original documents in its custody.
Despite the destruction, the EC purportedly continued the collation process, a move Mr. Fummey described as compromising the election's integrity.
EC’s Shift in Position
In his statement, Mr. Fummey expressed shock at the EC’s recent directive to continue with the collation process. This directive came despite earlier indications that the EC lacked the necessary pink sheets to ensure transparency. He asserts that the sudden assurance from the EC that it now possesses all the required pink sheets raises questions about their authenticity and completeness.
Key Legal Demands
Mr. Fummey’s suit seeks several declarations from the court. He argues that the integrity of the election has been compromised due to the alleged destruction and questionable nature of the pink sheets. Specifically, the plaintiff wants the court to declare that:
The integrity of the parliamentary election in Nsawam-Adoagyiri has been undermined.
The EC cannot lawfully declare a winner based on incomplete or questionable pink sheets.
A fresh parliamentary election must be organized for the constituency.
Additionally, Mr. Fummey has filed a motion for an interlocutory injunction to halt the ongoing collation of results until the substantive case is resolved.
Defendant in the Case
The lawsuit also names Frank Annoh Dompreh, the NPP parliamentary candidate for the constituency, as a defendant. While the NPP has yet to issue an official response, political analysts speculate that the case could have far-reaching implications for the election outcome in Nsawam-Adoagyiri.
Broader Implications
This case adds to the growing list of election disputes across Ghana, where political parties have raised concerns about transparency and credibility. The NDC, in particular, has been vocal about alleged irregularities in several constituencies, with leaders urging the EC to prioritize fairness and accountability.
Political observers are closely monitoring the situation in Nsawam-Adoagyiri as the court’s decision could set a precedent for handling similar disputes nationwide.
Conclusion
As Ghana’s democratic process evolves, the outcome of this lawsuit will undoubtedly shape public confidence in electoral institutions. For now, the constituents of Nsawam-Adoagyiri await clarity on their parliamentary representation, while the nation watches to see if justice will prevail in this contentious case.
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