Amenfi Central NDC protests disqualification of Joana Gyan Cudjoe

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Amenfi Central Constituency in the Western Region has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the Electoral Commission's (EC) disqualification of their Parliamentary Candidate (PC), Joana Gyan Cudjoe.

At a press conference addressed by Constituency Secretary, Fiifi Sangmoah, the party described the EC's action as "undemocratic, unconstitutional, provocative, and barefacedly instigated."

The controversy surrounds the May 13, 2023, parliamentary primaries, where Gyan Cudjoe won overwhelmingly.

However, dissatisfied individuals filed a lawsuit, securing an interlocutory injunction that temporarily restrained her from holding herself out as the duly elected candidate.

The NDC's Functional Executive Committee annulled the May 13, 2023, elections and conducted fresh primaries on September 8, 2024.

Joana Gyan Cudjoe emerged victorious once again, with the EC supervising the process.

The party argues that the September election superseded the May election, rendering the earlier contest irrelevant and reinforcing Madam Gyan Cudjoe's legitimacy.

Despite the NDC's arguments, the EC disqualified Madam Gyan Cudjoe, citing the interlocutory injunction tied to the annulled May 2023 election.

The party sees this decision as a gross display of incompetence and vows to fight back.

The NDC demands that the EC restore Madam Gyan Cudjoe's name on the notice of poll and ballot papers for Amenfi Central.

"We will only accept the outcome of the December 7, 2024, elections if Madam Gyan Cudjoe remains a contender. As Fiifi Sangmoah emphasized, We will not stop until justice is done and the people's will is restored."

Read below the full press statement:

PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE CONSTITUENCY SECRETARY

HON. FIIFI SANGMOAH ON THE DISQUALIFICATION BY THE ELECTORAL

COMMISSION OF THE NDC’S AMENFI CENTRAL PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen. Respectful Comrades and Party faithfuls, the press and the good people of Ghana, we are indeed grateful for your time and appreciate your quick response to this urgent call. This call is of importance to us and we are grateful that you have gathered here on this short notice. We bring you warm greetings from Amenfi Central Constituency Executive Members.

Today, we would like to take a moment to express our dissatisfaction on the recent pronouncement by the Electoral Commission on the disqualification of our Parliamentary Candidate of the Amenfi Central Constituency Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe. We want to unequivocally state here and now that we will not and shall not accept this decision made by the electoral commission. We see the EC’S action as undemocratic, unconstitutional but provocative and barefacedly instigated and executed by leadership of the Commission. The EC has shown gross incompetence by unlawfully disqualifying our duly elected parliamentary candidate for the Amenfi Central Constituency, Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe for which they the Electoral Commission supervised all the process leading to her candidature.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me set the records straight:

1. On May 13, 2023, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) conducted its parliamentary primaries in the Amenfi Central Constituency, where Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe won overwhelmingly as the chosen candidate.

2. However, following that victory, certain individuals who were dissatisfied with the outcome filed a lawsuit at the Sekondi High Court, questioning the legitimacy of the election. In response, an interlocutory injunction was secured, which temporarily restrained Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe from holding herself out as the duly elected parliamentary candidate until the final determination of the substantive matter.

3. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, and mindful of the electoral timelines, the NDC’s Functional Executive Committee made the prudent decision to annul the May 13, 2023, elections and proceed with fresh primaries.

4. Thus, on September 8, 2024, fresh elections were held. While five candidates initially contested the May election, for the September 2024 rerun, only Joana Gyan Cudjoe and the incumbent Peter Kwakye-Ackah filed and went through the vetting process.

5. The September election was conducted in accordance with all party rules and electoral guidelines, and was supervised by the Electoral Commission itself, which was duly informed of every step we took.

6. The process was transparent, and Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe was once again declared the clear and decisive winner, without any protests or objections from the other candidates there were no controversies surrounding the process.

7. The September 8 election superseded the May election, making the earlier contest irrelevant and reinforcing Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe's legitimacy as the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central.

8. The September 2024 election rendered the May 2023 election null and void. It effectively reset the clock. Despite these undeniable facts, the Electoral Commission, sought to disqualify Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe.

9. The May 2023 election, which was the subject of that injunction, no longer exists. It was annulled and replaced by the fresh September 2024 election.

10. The EC supervised the acclamation of Joana Gyan Cudjoe, allowed her to go through the filling of nominations for the December 2024 polls process.

The EC made no objections during these critical moments. And now, suddenly, they claim she is disqualified based on an injunction tied to an annulled election.

Ladies and gentlemen, the NDC will fight back with everything we’ve got, and we will not stop until justice is done and the people’s will is restored.

We need only one thing to be done by the EC and that is to restore the name of Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe’s credentials on the notice of poll and by extension ballot papers assigned for Amenfi Central.

The NDC, Amenfi Central will welcome the outcome of the results on December 7, 2024 if and only if Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe remains as part of the contenders.

Last but not least, we want to express our deepest gratitude to all of you gathered here for your unwavering support throughout this journey.

Your dedication, encouragement and trust in our Parliamentary Candidate is something we do not take for granted and we, the Constituency Executive Committee commend your good work and look forward for us to work together for HE John Dramani Mahama and we also have the conviction that our able Parliamentary Candidate’s name will be reinstated for all of us to vote massively for Madam Joana Gyan Cudjoe.

We want to assure you that, the CEC will continue to work together with our Regional Executives and National Executives to get this disquiet resolved once and for all.

We thank you for your attention