A parliamentary aspirant of the Action People’s Party (APP), David Ankomah, has sued the Electoral Commission (EC) after being disqualified from contesting the upcoming Akwatia by-election.
The EC excluded him from the race on grounds that he failed to submit a tax clearance certificate before the close of nominations.
In his writ filed at the High Court, Ankomah is challenging the Commission’s decision and seeking an order to suspend the by-election until the case is determined.
He argues that the EC gave him unreasonably short notice to produce the certificate, a document issued at the discretion of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
According to him, the Commission notified the Akwatia District Electoral Officer, instead of directly informing him, only on August 17, 2025, at 5 p.m., demanding the certificate by the following day.
The APP candidate maintains that he had already completed all necessary processes, including balloting for his position on the ballot paper, before receiving the late request.
He and his party further allege that the EC’s action was tainted by malice and fraud aimed at unlawfully excluding him from the race.
Despite several protests, the Commission upheld his disqualification.
The plaintiffs are therefore seeking a declaration that Ankomah met all requirements to contest and an order setting aside what they describe as a wrongful administrative act.
They also want the court to compel the EC to reinstate him on the ballot and issue a perpetual injunction preventing further interference with his candidacy.
The Akwatia by-election was necessitated by the death of New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP Ernest Yaw Kumi, who passed away just six months into office.
Kumi had won the 2024 parliamentary election with 19,269 votes against 17,206 secured by the NDC’s Henry Boakye Yiadom, a margin of 2,063.
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