EC Properly Declared Ebi Bright Winner of Tema Central Election – NDC Counsel Tells Court
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has defended the declaration of Ebi Bright as the winner of the Tema Central parliamentary election, challenging claims by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the process was improper. NDC counsel Godwin Tameklo argued in court that the Electoral Commission (EC) had conducted a proper declaration despite allegations that two polling stations were excluded. He referenced a letter from an NPP applicant, Charles Forson, acknowledging the declaration and seeking re-collation. Tameklo maintained that the court’s role was not to determine the election's outcome but to ensure the law was upheld. He further noted that a similar request to re-collate results in 2020 was rejected by the EC, affirming that a declaration cannot be reversed under such circumstances.
On the other side, NPP lawyers claimed that the declaration was invalid because it was not made by the EC’s official returning officer. They presented a video in court allegedly showing an unauthorized individual declaring Ebi Bright the winner. Counsel Gary Nimako Marfo argued that the declaration lacked credibility, citing the absence of results from all polling stations. He urged the court to compel the EC to complete the collation process, emphasizing the risk of disenfranchisement if all votes were not considered. The video also captured statements from NDC representatives allegedly pressuring the EC officer to declare Ebi Bright’s victory, raising further concerns about the process's integrity.
The EC’s counsel, Justin Amenuvor, called on the court to allow the commission to finalize the collation process under strict legal guidelines. He warned that failure to do so could set a dangerous precedent, enabling unauthorized individuals to interfere with official election duties. Amenuvor highlighted the need for adherence to constitutional provisions to protect the credibility of Ghana’s electoral system. The court's decision on the matter could have significant implications for electoral transparency and the democratic process in Ghana.
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