The Supreme Court of Ghana has ordered the Accra High Court to reconsider the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) appeal concerning the contentious parliamentary election outcomes in four constituencies: Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South. This is a major event. The December 27, 2024, unanimous 5-0 ruling highlights the value of equity and the NDC's ability to have its voice heard.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) filed a petition in which the NDC sought to force the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-collect results in these locations. The NDC, however, appealed to the Supreme Court after the High Court originally denied their application. According to the Supreme Court's decision, the NDC has the legal right to attend the hearing because it will be directly impacted by the result. The justices emphasized that before a ruling is rendered, the NDC's arguments must be considered in order to ensure impartiality.
Citing mistakes in the vote-counting process, the NPP contested the results in nine constituencies, starting this judicial struggle. The NDC objected to the High Court's initial order to re-collect results in a few places, notably Ablekuma North, claiming that the results had already been certified and declared. The Supreme Court's ruling means that the courts will continue to settle disputes in these four constituencies. Now, the NDC will have a chance to make their case in its entirety, making sure that their points are taken into account.