Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Peter Kwakye-Ackah, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has explained his decision to withdraw from the upcoming December 7, 2024 parliamentary election.
Following his defeat in the NDC parliamentary primaries to Joana Gyan Cudjoe, Kwakye-Ackah had initially filed to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 elections.
In a statement shared with GhanaWeb, Kwakye-Ackah revealed that he chose to exit the race after the High Court lifted the injunction that had previously prevented Gyan Cudjoe from contesting in the parliamentary election.
He further explained that his reasons for running as an independent candidate were no longer valid, prompting his decision to withdraw.
“I wish to inform the good people of Amenfi Central and the general public of my decision to withdraw my independent candidature from the 2024 Amenfi Central Parliamentary election forthwith.
“Pursuant to the decision by the High Court and the Electoral Commission to clear the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for this year’s election, I believe that my reasons for filing to contest the election as an independent candidate are no longer tenable,” he explained.
He added, “I would like to thank the Elders of the party and other leading members of the party for their invaluable counsel that has led to this decision in the supreme interest of the party. Long live the NDC, long live Amenfi Central, long live Ghana.”
Background:
On November 11, 2024, the Sekondi High Court lifted a previous injunction that had prevented Joana Gyan Cudjoe from standing as the chosen candidate.
The legal battle began when a group of dissatisfied individuals filed a lawsuit, resulting in an interlocutory injunction that temporarily barred Gyan Cudjoe from presenting herself as the candidate, despite her clear win in the May 13, 2023 parliamentary primaries.
Following this, the NDC’s Functional Executive Committee annulled the May election and held new primaries on September 8, 2024, where Joana Gyan Cudjoe triumphed again, with the Electoral Commission overseeing the process.
The party argued that the September election replaced the previous one, solidifying Joana Gyan Cudjoe’s position as the legitimate candidate.
However, the Electoral Commission disqualified her due to the interlocutory injunction linked to the annulled May 2023 election.