The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has annulled the May 2023 parliamentary primaries held in Amenfi Central in the Western Region, following several months of litigation over the outcome.
In the May 13, 2023, primaries, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah, was defeated by Dr. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, a businesswoman and wife of a member of the renowned Ghanaian music group Keche.
Mrs. Cudjoe garnered 756 votes, dethroning the two-term incumbent MP, who received 575 votes.
In the immediate aftermath of the election, the defeated MP went to court to have the election annulled, citing irregularities in the process.
At one point, the Secondi High Court ordered Mrs. Cudjoe to cease holding herself out as the NDC parliamentary candidate for the area.
However, in a press release dated September 5, 2024, and copied to Awakenewsroom.com, the NDC announced the annulment of the election and set a date for new primaries.
“The Functional Executive Committee of the NDC at its meeting on Tuesday, 3rd September, 2024 has decided to annul the Parliamentary primaries that were conducted on the 13th May, 2023 in Amenfi Central. This election has been the subject of litigation at the High Court, Sekondi.
“In the reliefs (c), (d), and (e) of the Plaintiffs’ action, they seek from the court the annulment of the parliamentary primary election result and an order for rerun of the election,” the statement read.
It continued, “The Party at its meeting has decided to annul the election and to rerun the same. Accordingly, the Parliamentary primaries conducted on the 13th May, 2023 in Amenfi Central have been annulled forthwith.”
“The party has decided to open fresh nominations for the conduct of the primaries in Amenfi Central Constituency,” the press release, which was signed by Fiifi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC, mentioned.
Meanwhile, the party will open nominations on Friday, September 6, and hold an election to select a new parliamentary candidate on Sunday, September 8.
