EC Disqualifies Joana Gyan Cudjoe From Member Of Parliament Race EC

In a major turn of events regarding the 2024 parliamentary elections, the Electoral Commission of Ghana has officially removed Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the parliamentary candidate representing the National Democratic Congress in Amenfi Central. This decision follows a court ruling that has wide-reaching implications for both Cudjoe and the NDC.

This disqualification comes after the Sekondi High Court, on May 31, 2024, granted an interlocutory injunction in the case of Gyedu Frimpong & 4 Others vs. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the NDC, and the Electoral Commission. The injunction restrains Cudjoe from holding herself out as the candidate for Amenfi Central until the final determination of the case. The EC and the NDC have also been restrained from declaring or granting her any rights or privileges as the candidate for the constituency.

The lawsuit centers on claims that Joana Gyan Cudjoe allegedly forged her voter identification card and NDC party membership card. The five applicants comprising Gyedu Frimpong, Akubilla Daniel, and others brought the claims against her, which led to legal action that derailed her parliamentary aspirations.

In a letter dated October 10, 2024, the Deputy Chairman of Operations at the EC, Samuel Tettey, informed Cudjoe of her disqualification, stressing that the EC is bound by the court's order, which remains in force. This now brings a major setback for the NDC in the Amenfi Central constituency as the party now faces the uphill task of fielding a new candidate or going to court with the hope of overturning the court's decision.

The subsequent steps the NDC takes will be very crucial to determine their fate in the pending parliamentary elections as the political terrain is gradually changing in Amenfi Central.