The Electoral Commission (EC) has disqualified Joana Gyan Cudjoe from running as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central in the 2024 Parliamentary elections.
This decision follows a petition referencing a pending court order for an interlocutory injunction, which barred the Commission from recognizing Madam Cudjoe as the party’s parliamentary candidate.
According to a letter signed by the EC’s Deputy Chairman of Operations, Samuel Tettey, the Commission was alerted to an Order for Interlocutory Injunction against the candidacy of the NDC PC dated May 31, 2024.
“The Commission’s attention has been drawn to an Order for Interlocutory Injunction dated 31st May, 2024 in respect of a suit entitled Gyedu Frimpong & 4 Others Vrs Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the National Democratic Congress & the Electoral Commission (Suit No. E12/36/24) by the High Court, Sekondi,” he wrote.
The letter further added that the petitioners raised concerns about the authenticity of Cudjoe’s voter identification, leading to her disqualification.
It will be recalled that in May 2024, Joana Gyan Cudjoe was barred by the Sekondi High Court in May 2024 from presenting herself as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the constituency. The court’s ruling followed allegations that she had forged her voter ID and NDC membership card.
The case was brought against her by five applicants—Gyedu Frimpong, Akubilla Daniel, Enock Ntiamoh, Isaac Twum, and Doris Aidoo—who sued Cudjoe, the NDC, and the Electoral Commission, leading to her disqualification.
Despite winning the fresh primaries by popular acclamation, the EC in its letter of disqualification noted that the Commission is legally bound by a court order, which has not been overturned or stayed.