NDC Runs To Court In Attempts To Reinstate Joana Gyan Cudjoe In Amenfi Central Race
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has filed a new application in the Sekondi High Court, aiming to lift an injunction that has barred Joana Gyan Cudjoe, spouse of musician Keche, from being officially recognized as the NDC’s Parliamentary Candidate for the Amenfi Central constituency in the upcoming December 7 general election.
This legal step follows a recent ruling by the Accra High Court, which dismissed the NDC’s attempt to prevent the Electoral Commission (EC) from printing ballots and notices of poll, a move intended to secure Cudjoe’s position on the ballot. The Accra court rejected the application, citing an earlier active injunction as the basis for its decision.
Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and Information Technology, explained that the party is pursuing the case further at the Sekondi High Court. He noted that the upcoming November 7 hearing seeks to nullify the injunction, allowing Madam Cudjoe’s candidacy to be reflected on the ballot.
The dispute traces back to the NDC’s primary election in Amenfi Central, where Madam Gyan Cudjoe won by a large margin. However, certain members of the NDC filed a lawsuit challenging her candidacy, securing an injunction to prevent her from holding herself out as the legitimate candidate. In response, the NDC’s Functional Executive Committee annulled the primary and held a fresh election on September 8, 2024, supervised by the EC, in which Cudjoe again emerged victorious. The NDC maintains that this second election is the valid one, confirming Cudjoe’s eligibility.
Despite this, the EC disqualified Cudjoe, citing the ongoing injunction linked to the original primary. In response, the NDC has demanded that the EC include her name on the ballot and notice of poll.
The Amenfi Central NDC constituency has publicly criticized the EC’s decision to disqualify Cudjoe. At a recent press briefing, Fiifi Sangmoah, the Constituency Secretary, described the disqualification as “undemocratic and unconstitutional,” urging the EC to respect the will of NDC members in Amenfi Central.
The Sekondi High Court’s upcoming ruling will be pivotal in determining whether Joana Gyan Cudjoe’s candidacy for Amenfi Central will proceed in the December elections.