The Electoral Commission (EC) has disqualified Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Amenfi Central Constituency in the Western Region, from contesting in the upcoming 2024 parliamentary election. The decision, announced in a letter dated October 10, 2024, was signed by Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations at the EC.
The EC’s disqualification of Joana Gyan Cudjoe is linked to an ongoing court case. She has been accused of knowingly forging her NDC membership card and backdating it to meet the party’s requirement of four years of membership. This legal issue originated from a petition filed by Gyedu Frimpong, a native of Amenfi Central, who argued that an injunction issued by the High Court in Takoradi prevented the EC from accepting Gyan Cudjoe’s nomination.
The petition submitted by Frimpong detailed alleged irregularities in Gyan Cudjoe’s nomination documents. Among the concerns was the presence of an 11-digit voter ID number on her submitted documents, whereas valid voter ID numbers under Ghana’s Public Election Regulations should consist of 10 digits. The petition further claimed that Gyan Cudjoe had used two different voter ID numbers—67610125841 and 67610125891—both of which were linked to another individual, Seidu Bala, with an official ID number of 6761012589.
Frimpong argued that these discrepancies amounted to document forgery, which is considered a criminal offense under Ghanaian law. The petition emphasized that such acts not only violated the law but also disqualified Gyan Cudjoe from the parliamentary primaries. The petitioner insisted that only individuals of integrity should be allowed to contest in elections, and called for a full investigation and prosecution of the matter.
In response to the petition and the court injunction, the EC stated in its disqualification letter that it is obligated to comply with the court’s order, which has not been lifted or dismissed. As a result, Gyan Cudjoe’s disqualification stands, barring her from participating in the 2024 parliamentary elections for Amenfi Central.
The disqualification of Joana Gyan Cudjoe is a significant setback for the NDC in Amenfi Central, where the party will now have to reconsider its strategy as the election approaches. The case also underscores the challenges candidates face in navigating electoral regulations and the legal requirements of Ghana’s election process.
