Effutu Parliamentary Election Results Challenged in Court
The 2024 parliamentary election results in the Effutu Constituency are facing legal scrutiny as two candidates, James Kofi Annan of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and independent candidate Louisa Buabeng, have filed a petition at the Winneba High Court seeking to annul the results.
The election, which was won by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is now being challenged over alleged irregularities and bias on the part of the Electoral Commission (EC).
The first petitioner, James Kofi Annan, is calling for the annulment of results from 96 polling stations, claiming that the signatures on the pink sheets do not belong to his officially assigned polling agents. His legal team argues that unauthorized individuals signed for his agents, raising concerns about the credibility of the election results.
According to his lawyer, Jennifred Maurice Adjei, an analysis of the 150 pink sheets used in the election revealed that in at least 96 instances, signatures did not match those of the designated polling agents. This, he claims, suggests that the election results may have been tampered with.
The second petitioner, Louisa Buabeng, is pushing for the complete annulment of the parliamentary election results. She argues that the Electoral Commission denied her access to crucial election information, including the voter register and the opportunity to field polling agents.
Her legal team contends that some unknown individuals signed her pink sheets on behalf of her polling agents in about 30 polling stations, even though she did not assign any. This, they argue, is a violation of natural justice and electoral fairness.
Beyond seeking the annulment of the results, both petitioners are requesting that the court issue a directive compelling the Electoral Commission to provide all candidates with necessary election information and ensure equal opportunities in future elections.
As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes are on the Winneba High Court, which will determine the validity of these claims. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the Effutu Constituency’s parliamentary representation and future electoral processes in Ghana.