Hon. Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah has announced his withdrawal from the race for the Amenfi Central seat ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections.
The current Member of Parliament, who had initially declared his independent candidacy, released a public statement detailing the reasons behind his decision.
Citing the recent decision by the High Court and the Electoral Commission to clear the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the election, Hon. Kwakye-Ackah noted that his original reasons for contesting as an independent candidate had been rendered obsolete.
“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,” he stated.
Hon. Kwakye-Ackah expressed gratitude to party elders and leading members for their guidance during this period, emphasizing that the move was in the best interest of the NDC and the community he serves.
“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,” he added.
The statement concluded with a call for unity and continued support for the NDC, echoing his dedication to the party’s success and the betterment of Amenfi Central and Ghana as a whole.
“Long live the NDC, long live Amenfi Central, long live Ghana,” he declared.
This withdrawal reshapes the political landscape in Amenfi Central, leaving the NDC poised to consolidate support as the 2024 elections draw closer.
Joana Gyan Cudjoe’s court case
Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central, expressed her gratitude after the Sekondi High Court lifted an injunction that had blocked her from running for the seat, saying, “God has vindicated” her.
The issue began after Cudjoe’s clear win in the NDC’s May 2023 primaries, which led some unhappy party members to file a lawsuit, resulting in a temporary court order stopping her candidacy.
In response, the NDC annulled the original primary and held a new one in September 2024, where Cudjoe won again. Despite her win, the Electoral Commission disqualified her due to the earlier injunction. The NDC took the matter to the Sekondi High Court after another legal attempt in Accra failed.
On November 11, 2024, Justice George K. Gyan-Kontoh ruled that the reasons for the injunction were no longer valid, especially since the NDC had held a new election. He also noted that the current MP, Kwakye Ackah, did not join the new primaries, reinforcing Cudjoe’s position. The court lifted the injunction, allowing Cudjoe to contest in the upcoming election.
In an interview with Citi News, a relieved and elated Cudjoe thanked God for her “vindication” and expressed her gratitude to the NDC and its members for their steadfast support.
She encouraged her supporters in Amenfi Central to celebrate the victory, announcing her plans to officially launch her campaign and see it through to the December elections.