The High Court has dismissed an application filed by Bernard Mornah, flagbearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), seeking to overturn the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to disqualify him from the upcoming presidential election.
The ruling, issued on Monday, October 21, marks a significant setback for Mornah and his party just weeks before the December polls.
Mornah was disqualified by the EC due to irregularities in his nomination forms, which were deemed insufficient to support his candidacy. In response, he argued that the grounds for his disqualification were unjust and filed a legal challenge.
However, the High Court upheld the EC’s decision, prompting widespread discussion in Ghana’s political circles about the fairness of the electoral process. Mornah’s supporters have raised concerns about the transparency of the disqualification process, questioning the EC’s handling of such cases.
Despite this legal defeat, Mornah remains committed to pushing for electoral reforms. He announced plans to petition the Supreme Court for a review, asserting that the EC made errors in disqualifying him and ten other candidates. He expressed confidence in the validity of his claims.
The disqualification has affected not only Mornah but also other candidates, including Kofi Asamoah Siaw of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Janet Nabla of the PNC, and independent candidates Nana Stephens Adjepong and Paul Perkoh. Additionally, Samuel Apea-Danquah, Desmond Abrefah, Dr. Samuel Sampong Ankrah, and Nii Amu Darko were also disqualified, adding to the challenges for their respective parties ahead of the election.