KPANDAI RERUN: Courts Must Act Swiftly to Prevent Costly Parlimentary Election – Boafo Akuffo

Legal practitioner Kwame Boafo Akuffo, Esq., of Akropong-Akuapem, has called on the judiciary to urgently intervene to bring finality to the ongoing dispute over the Kpandai parliamentary seat, warning that delays could result in a costly and avoidable rerun election.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, Mr. Boafo Akuffo said that a certiorari application has been filed, citing errors in the gazette date, a development he says could significantly affect the outcome of the case and appears likely to favour the respondent.

According to him, under the circumstances, the focus should be on engaging the judicial organs of state to conclusively resolve the dispute before December 30, rather than allowing political processes to proceed in uncertainty.

“Once we have decided that our constitutional clockwork will not be interrupted by applications, we must also ensure that we have constitutional servants, particularly within the judiciary, who will bring this litigation to an end before irreparable harm is done,” he said.

Mr. Boafo Akuffo cautioned that proceeding with a rerun election without legal clarity would impose an unnecessary financial burden on the state, referencing the ₵38 million spent on the Akwatia election as an example of wasteful expenditure.

He also addressed public concerns about why Parliament had not been formally written to halt the process, explaining that the Constitution imposes mandatory obligations on institutions such as the Clerk of Parliament, which cannot be ignored once triggered.

However, he stressed that the same constitutional framework must allow for speedy and expedited justice delivery, especially in urgent cases with far-reaching consequences.

“The constitutional clockwork should also make provision for expedited justice. Where matters are urgent and the cause is reasonable, the courts can even sit on Saturdays and Sundays,” he noted.