An attempt by two New Patriotic Party members to prevent the incumbent Member of Parliament for Manhyia North Constituency from contesting the seat in this year’s election has hit a snag.
The Kumasi High Court on Monday dismissed an injunction that sought to prevent the MP, Owusu Amankwaa, from filing his nomination to contest in the 2016 parliamentary election on the ticket of the NPP.
Mr Amankwaa was declared winner in the July 2, 2016 constituency primary having polled 185 votes as against the 176 votes secured by Akwesi Konadu, and Nana Osei Bamfo’s 120 votes.
Two dissatisfied members of the party consequently initiated an action to get the entire constituency primary nullified claiming there was wrongful omission of names, which they argued affected the outcome of the primary. Both the NPP and the EC are party to the suit.
While the case is pending, they on August 25, 2016 filed an injunction at the High Court to prevent Mr Amankwaa from filing his nomination.
But the High Court presided over by Justice Obeng Diawuo rejected the injunction application, thus paving the way for Mr Amankwaa to file his nomination forms with the Electoral Commission to enable him contest the elections.
It has meanwhile fixed September 23 to begin hearing of the substantive case.
The Manhyia North Constituency primary delayed for almost a year because of internal wrangling borne out of the credibility of the constituency album.
A Supreme Court ruling on the April 9, 2014 had recommended the annulment of the previous album compelling fresh elections of polling station and constituency executives.
By William Evans-Nkum |TV3|3news.com|Ghana
