Wednesday, 10 December

Kpandai controversy: Minority says EC notification was premature and unlawful, calls for withdrawal

News
Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh

The Minority in Parliement is demanding the immediate reversal of Parliament’s letter to the Electoral Commission (EC) announcing a vacancy in the Kpandai Constituency, arguing that the correspondence was improperly issued and lacks legal grounding.

Addressing the House, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh criticized the December 4, 2025 letter—signed by the Clerk to Parliament—as having been dispatched without adherence to proper procedure, particularly because a motion for stay of execution is still before the courts.

According to him, the communication to the EC “was inappropriate, misguided and contrary to established legal processes,” insisting that Parliament must retract it without delay. He stressed that Ghana’s democratic institutions must operate strictly within the rules, especially in matters as sensitive as electoral procedures.

The Parliamentary Service wrote to the EC last week confirming that the Kpandai seat had become vacant after a High Court ruling ordering a rerun of the 2024 parliamentary polls. The notification effectively set in motion arrangements for a by-election.

The letter, addressed to EC Chairperson Jean Mensa and signed by Clerk Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, referenced Article 112(5), which mandates Parliament to notify the Commission of any vacancy.

However, the Minority contends that this action was premature and disregarded an ongoing legal challenge. Annoh-Dompreh argued that Parliament should not move ahead with the court directive until the application for a stay has been determined.

“We cannot endorse this course of action,” he maintained. “The Clerk must be directed to withdraw the letter and act in conformity with the law.”

He further reminded the Speaker of past moments where both sides of the House worked cooperatively despite political differences, urging similar impartiality and adherence to procedure in the present matter.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Zita Okwang