Electoral Commission Bars NDC Candidate
Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central, has been disqualified from contesting in the 2024 parliamentary elections by the Electoral Commission.
This decision follows an Interlocutory Injunction issued by the High Court in Sekondi on May 31, 2024, in the case of Gyedu Frimpong & 4 Others vs. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the NDC, and the Electoral Commission.
Court Order Restricts Cudjoe’s Candidacy
The court’s ruling explicitly prohibits Cudjoe from presenting herself as the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central until the legal case is fully resolved.
Additionally, it prevents both the NDC and the Electoral Commission from recognizing or granting her any rights or privileges as a candidate.
Electoral Commission’s Official Statement
In an official letter addressed to Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the Electoral Commission cited the court’s directive, stating:
“It is ordered that, until the final determination of the matter, the parties are restrained as follows:
a) The 1st Defendant/Respondent (Joana Gyan Cudjoe) is prohibited from presenting herself as the duly elected NDC Parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central.
b) The 2nd and 3rd Defendants/Respondents (the NDC and the Electoral Commission), including their agents and officers, are prohibited from recognizing or granting her any rights or privileges as the duly elected NDC parliamentary candidate for the Amenfi Central Constituency.
Cudjoe’s Disqualification Confirmed
The letter, as obtained by GhanaWeb, further confirmed:
“In this regard, we inform you that you have been disqualified from standing as a candidate for election to Parliament in your Constituency.”
Background of the Disqualification
Cudjoe’s disqualification follows her appeal to the Electoral Commission, which was in response to a petition seeking to block her from participating in the December 7 elections.
Her removal from the race adds to the ongoing political tensions within the NDC and raises questions about the party’s next steps in the Amenfi Central Constituency.
