The High Court in Koforidua, presided over by Supervising Judge His Lordship Justice George Krofa-Addae, has dismissed in entirety the parliamentary election petition filed by former Member of parliamentary for Suhum, Oboafo Kwadwo Asante, who contested the 2024 election as an Independent Candidate.
The Judge held that the plaintiff failed to aduce credible and competent evidence to prove his claim of irregularities and malpractice in the election.
The Court awarded cost of Ghc200,000 in favour of the respondent -Frank Asiedu Bekoe alias Protozoa.
Suhum Parliamentary election results was one of the contentious results which were only declared several days after close of polls by the Electoral Commission at Police training school in Texans, Accra.
Frank Asiedu Bekoe received 16,855 , whereas the candidate from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prince Kwadwo Addo Tabiri garnered 15, 259 votes as Kwadjo Asante, independent candidate, garnered a total of 14,860 votes while another independent candidate Emmanuel Dede Wiafe received only 159 votes.
Kwadjo Asante , a former Member of Parliament for Suhum who contested the 2024 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate after breaking away from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) filed a petition at the Koforidua High Court challenging the declaration of Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa, who was declared winner.
In his affidavit, Mr. Asante alleged that the parliamentary election was fraught with irregularities that significantly affected the outcome.
According to him, 37 pink sheets contained multiple biometric verification device (BVD) numbers, five pink sheets had no BVD numbers, three lacked presiding officers’ signatures, and 14 pink sheets contained conflicting voter figures.
He also contended that results from six polling stations, with a total voter population of 3,381, were not factored into the final declaration.
“That the voter population of the six (6) polling stations chronicled supra cumulates to a total voter population of Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty One (3,381).
.That if we are to apply the National voter average turn out of sixty percent (60%) for the said election on the voter population of 3,381, the outcome will bring the total vote cast to 2,029. That it is the contention of the Petitioner/Applicant that the figure 2,029 is highly significant to impact the direction of the polls in one way or the other, particularly in favour of the Petitioner or that of the National Democratic Congress that is if we are to admit the figures from the 160 collated Statement of Polls “.the petitioner stated in his sworn affidavit.
Mr. Asante is therefore seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the Suhum results are void, and an order for a re-run of the elections in either the affected polling stations or the entire constituency.
But in his response, the first respondent, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, dismissed the allegations as baseless.
He argued that the polls were “regular and lawful,” adding that he was duly elected by the people of Suhum with 16,855 votes against 15,259 for Prince Addo Tabiri of the NDC, and 14,860 for Kwadjo Asante.
He further questioned the credibility of the petition, saying: “It is strange that after objecting to results from six polling stations in which I had the majority of votes, the petitioner is now asking the court to include those same results. This inconsistency undermines his entire case.”
“The Petitioner objected to the inclusion of results from six (6) polling Stations, namely; Temporary Booth Kusuntu (E110403), Suhum Police Station (E110606), K. Annor Oyoko Oye Nankese (E111704), R/C Primary School, Kukua (E112501), Methodist Primary School, Supriso (E112301) and Dawn of Life Preparatory School, Akorabo 1 (E112103). Attached herewith and marked as Exhibit 2 series are copies of the Statement of Poll Sheets from those six (6) Polling Stations”.
The First Respondent added that ” My Lord from the results declared, even when the Petitioner through his agent objected to the inclusion of six (6) polling stations in which I won the majority of the total valid votes cast, the Petitioner lost the Suhum Constituency Parliamentary Elections to me by 1,995 votes. It is strange that after objecting to the inclusion of results from six (6) polling stations in which I won the total votes, the same person would come to court to challenge his own objection”
Story by: Obed Kojo Ansah/Koforidua
