The Supreme Court has nullified a High Court order that authorized the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-collate and declare the parliamentary election results for the Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South constituencies.
The ruling, delivered on December 27, 2024, declared the re-collation exercise in these constituencies invalid, citing a violation of the rights of National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidates to a fair hearing during the initial High Court proceedings.
In its judgment, the apex court clarified that its decision does not extend to the results of Ahafo Ano North and Nsawam Adoagyiri, leaving them unaffected by the ruling.
The Supreme Court’s decision overturns the High Court’s earlier ruling on December 20, which directed the EC to re-collate results in nine constituencies due to alleged irregularities.
This directive followed a mandamus application filed by New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates, who argued that inconsistencies in the tabulated results necessitated further verification to ensure transparency and accuracy.
Although the EC has already complied with the High Court order in seven constituencies, including the now-invalidated Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South, re-collation in Dome-Kwabenya and Ablekuma North remains incomplete.
The Supreme Court further directed that the High Court must now hear and determine the pending mandamus application on Tuesday, December 31. This move ensures that the grievances surrounding the electoral discrepancies will be thoroughly examined in accordance with due process.
The ruling has significant implications for the 2024 parliamentary elections, as it highlights the judiciary’s role in upholding electoral integrity and protecting the rights of candidates. Both political parties and stakeholders await the High Court’s next steps with keen interest.