Agona West Member of Parliament, Cynthia Morrison, has alleged that the recent injunction against her re-election bid is part of a deliberate scheme by members of her own party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to block her candidacy.
According to Morrison, rumors surrounding the court’s decision are part of a larger effort to prevent her from contesting as an independent candidate in the 2024 parliamentary elections. She dismissed the claims as false, asserting that they are designed to frustrate her political aspirations.
The Agona Swedru District Magistrate Court issued an injunction barring Morrison from running as an independent candidate for Agona West in the Central Region. The court’s ruling stems from allegations that Morrison is not a resident of Agona West but rather Agona East, which her challengers argue makes her ineligible to contest the seat.
The plaintiffs in the case—Emmanuel Addison, Solomon Nyarko, and Harrison A. Aglago, all National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch executives in the Agona West Constituency—filed the suit against Morrison. The court’s injunction prevents her from presenting herself as a parliamentary candidate until the case is fully resolved.
With less than two months before the 2024 elections, Morrison fears that the legal battle could significantly cut into her campaign time, jeopardizing her chances of re-election. The injunction comes three months after she announced her intention to run as an independent candidate, following her defeat in the NPP’s internal primaries. In that contest, she garnered 152 votes, losing to Christopher Arthur, who received 240 votes.
Despite her loss in the primaries, Morrison has remained committed to her constituency, stating that her decision to run independently was motivated by her desire to continue developing Agona West. She claims that her party has schemed against her, undermining her chances within the NPP’s internal process.
Reacting to the court’s decision, investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni raised concerns about the fairness of the ruling. In a post on the X platform, he questioned whether such legal decisions could ultimately damage the democratic process, especially when election cases are unresolved before voting takes place.
Awuni argued that if the case results in Morrison’s disqualification, the damage to her campaign could be irreversible. He noted, “If the offense is so grave as to warrant her disqualification from the race, the court can declare her election null and void afterward, as has happened in many cases. If she’s stopped from contesting and later wins the case, can the court reverse the damage?”
He also highlighted that Morrison, a former minister of state and the current sitting MP for Agona West, has continuously claimed that elements within the NPP are working to block her candidacy. Awuni warned that this case could set a dangerous precedent, where candidates could face last-minute legal challenges aimed at manipulating electoral outcomes.
Cynthia Morrison remains resolute in her determination to contest the 2024 elections, despite the legal and political hurdles in her path. She continues to advocate for the development of Agona West, with the outcome of the court case set to play a pivotal role in her political future.