The Supreme Court of Ghana has intervened in the ongoing election petition saga, ordering the reassignment of petitions filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to a different High Court judge.
This decision comes after the Supreme Court quashed previous orders issued by the original judge, raising concerns about potential bias.
The NPP had filed mandamus applications in the High Court, seeking to compel the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-collate election results in nine constituencies where they believe irregularities occurred.
The High Court initially granted the NPP’s request, leading to the re-collation of results in seven constituencies. However, the NDC challenged these orders in the Supreme Court on Thursday, December 27, 2024, arguing they were illegal and procedurally flawed.
The Supreme Court, while quashing the previous orders, emphasized that the petitions themselves remain valid. They directed that the petitions be heard and determined by a different judge to maintain the integrity of the judicial process.
This reassignment has significant implications for the ongoing election disputes. With the national electoral calendar facing time constraints, the Supreme Court has expedited the process, setting a deadline for the new judge to hear the petitions by December 31, 2024.
The outcome of these petitions will have a crucial impact on the final outcome of the parliamentary elections in the affected constituencies.
Source: myghanadaily
