NDC’s Joana Gyan disqualified from contesting Amenfi Central parliamentary election

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Amenfi Central parliamentary candidate, Joana Gyan Cudjoe, has been disqualified by the Electoral Commission from contesting in the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections.

This decision follows an Order for Interlocutory Injunction issued by the High Court in Sekondi on May 31, 2024, in the case of Gyedu Frimpong & 4 Others vs. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the NDC, and the Electoral Commission.

The court order restrains Joana Gyan Cudjoe from presenting herself as the duly elected NDC parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central until the final determination of the matter.

It also restrains the NDC and the Electoral Commission from recognising or affording her any rights or privileges as the candidate.

The Electoral Commission, in a letter to the embattled politician, informing her of her disqualification from the race stated;

“It is ordered that until the final determination of the matter, the affected parties are restrained as follows:

a) The 1 Defendant/Respondent for holding herself out as the duly elected NDC Parliamentary candidate for the Amenfi Central Constituency.
b) The 2nd and 3rd Defendants/Respondents, their agents and officers for holding out, allowing the 1st Defendant/Respondent to be held out, dealt with in any way, recognized or afforded any rights or privileges as the duly elected NDC Parliamentary Candidate for the Amenfi Central Constituency.”

The letter, sighted by GhanaWeb, continued “In this regard, we write to inform you that you have been disqualified from standing as a candidate for election to Parliament in your Constituency.”

This comes after Cudjoe appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) regarding the petition aimed at preventing her from contesting in the upcoming December 7 elections.

See the full letter below:

Background

In a letter dated October 10, 2024, Deputy Chairman of Operations, Samuel Tettey, informed Joana Gyan Cudjoe of her disqualification, stating that the Commission is bound by the court order, which has not been stayed or vacated.

Meanwhile, the incumbent MP for Amenfi Central, Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, announced his intention to run as an independent candidate after losing the NDC primary to Joana Gyan Cudjoe.