Politics of Monday, 11 November 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Joana Gyan cleared to contest as Sekondi High Court lifts injunction

Joana Gyan Cudjoe is the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi Central Joana Gyan Cudjoe is the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi Central

Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central, has been cleared to contest in the upcoming December elections.

This follows a ruling by the Sekondi High Court on November 11, 2024, which lifted an earlier injunction preventing her from standing as the elected candidate.

The court previously adjourned the case, in which the National Democratic Congress requested the removal of the injunction and dismissal of the substantive disqualification.

After the ruling, Joana Gyan and her supporters celebrated the decision. Addressing the jubilant crowd, she expressed gratitude, saying, "We thank God for everything that has happened today, especially my new lawyers who came in to rescue me… I thank God and all the NDC members, executives, all the Western Region NDC. I must say I am very happy.”

The legal dispute began when some dissatisfied individuals filed a lawsuit, securing an interlocutory injunction that temporarily restrained Joana Gyan from presenting herself as the candidate, despite her convincing victory in the May 13, 2023, parliamentary primaries.

The NDC's Functional Executive Committee later annulled the May election and conducted fresh primaries on September 8, 2024, where Joana Gyan Cudjoe emerged victorious once again, with the EC supervising the process.

The party contended that the September election superseded the previous contest, thereby affirming Joana Gyan Cudjoe's legitimacy as the candidate.

Despite this, the EC disqualified her based on the interlocutory injunction tied to the annulled May 2023 election.

MAG/OGB