High Court to Deliver Ruling on Mandamus Application , Key Decision Looms for NPP Candidates

The High Court in Accra is set to rule on a crucial Mandamus application on January 4, 2024, that could have significant implications for the swearing-in of several NPP Parliamentary candidates.

The case, involving candidates from constituencies like Okai Kwei Central, Ablekuma North, Techiman South, and Tema Central, has raised questions surrounding the process for swearing in members of parliament ahead of the new year.

Earlier, the court dismissed a preliminary objection from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) brought by their counsel, Godwin Kudzo Edudzi Tamaklo.

This legal challenge had questioned the legitimacy of the parliamentary candidates’ eligibility.

However, Justice Agypong, who is presiding over the case, disagreed, citing established judicial review principles from legal authorities such as Prof. Atuguba, the Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law.

With the preliminary objection out of the way, the court now shifts focus to the primary matter at hand: the Mandamus application.

The applicants, who are members of the NPP, are requesting that the court force the Electoral Commission to take actions that would allow them to take office as lawmakers in the upcoming parliamentary session.

The ruling will be delivered on January 4, just two days before Parliament is scheduled to swear in new lawmakers, with a national ceremony planned for January 6.

This legal battle has taken on added importance as it may influence the ceremonial and legal processes leading up to the inauguration of the newly elected Parliamentarians.

While the ruling is set for early January, there is a possibility it could delay or even alter the timeline for the swearing-in ceremony, depending on how the court decides.

For now, all eyes are on the High Court, which will determine whether the NPP candidates will face additional hurdles before officially beginning their terms.

The court’s decision is eagerly awaited by all parties involved, and the ruling could have widespread effects on the functioning of the legislature in the early days of the new year.