Thursday, 30 January

Court grants NDC candidates’ request for substituted service in election petitions

General News
The gavel

Two High Courts in Kumasi have granted applications for substituted service filed by three National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidates challenging the re-collation and re-declaration of results in the Obuasi East, Ahafo Ano South West, and Ahafo Ano North constituencies.

The petitioners—Kwasi Adusei (Ahafo Ano North), Saddick Abubakar (Ahafo Ano South West), and Aboagye Samuel (Obuasi East)—filed petitions contesting the Electoral Commission’s (EC) handling of results in the 2024 general elections.

They also filed ex-parte motions for injunctions to halt any further actions related to the disputed results.

However, they faced difficulties in serving the respondents, including the incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs), the Electoral Commission, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Clerk of Parliament.

As a result, they sought permission from the court to use alternative means to notify the respondents about the pending petitions and injunction applications.

The courts approved their requests, directing the petitioners to serve the respondents through substituted service.

The petitioners from Obuasi East and Ahafo Ano South West have been given 10 days to paste court documents on the notice boards of the respondents, while the petitioner from Ahafo Ano North has been given seven days to do the same.

The cases have been adjourned to February 19, 2025.

Speaking after the court proceedings, the lawyer for the petitioners, Evans Amankwah, welcomed the court’s decision, expressing optimism about the next legal steps in the electoral dispute.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Elisha Adarwah