Barker-Vormawor reacts to court ruling on Ayawaso East by-election

Lawyer and activist, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, says the High Court ruling clearing Baba Jamal to contest the Ayawaso East by-election does not end efforts to challenge the monetisation of elections in the country.

Speaking to journalists after court proceedings on Monday, March 3, 2026, he noted that the court had considered several objections filed by pressure group Democracy Hub, dismissing some but ruling in their favour on others.

Accra High Court throws out Democracy Hub suit against Baba Jamal

“Whatever the case may be, it doesn’t foreclose the matter for us. There are many avenues to continue challenging this issue. It has become part of our commitment and our client’s commitment to ensure that the way we conduct our elections, particularly the monetisation of elections, we don't have part of them as democracy.

"We will continue to pursue that in terms of bringing another application, whether before or the elections, even after the elections are conducted", he remarked.

Can Baba Jamal stage a successful political comeback in Ayawaso East?

Barker-Vormawor also commended the court for its thorough engagement, saying the judiciary plays a crucial role in safeguarding the health of Ghana’s democracy.

“I'm not surprised that the court has reached a rich decision. It's not every time that the court doesn't agree with you that we cannot appreciate the reasoning of how the judge goes to that point.

"And we're also grateful for the court for understanding, the public interest in the matter ”, Barker-Vormawor said.

An Accra High Court has dismissed an application seeking to stop National Democratic Congress candidate Baba Jamal from contesting in the Ayawaso East by-election scheduled for March 3, 2026.

The suit, filed by Democracy Hub, had asked the court to prevent the Electoral Commission from recognising Jamal over allegations of vote-buying during the party’s recent primaries.

With the case dismissed, there is now no legal barrier preventing Baba Jamal from contesting in the by-election as scheduled.

Watch the video below:

We'll bring another application... - Oliver Barker Vormawor after court dismissed Democracy Hub's lawsuit seeking to halt the Ayawaso East by-election #GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #GHOneTV #NewsAlert #CourtToday pic.twitter.com/ZBgGyk0rXm

— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) March 2, 2026