The Koforidua High Court has thrust the Ano Dompre parliamentary seat into the spotlight, summoning Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa on March 3, 2025, over alleged irregularities in the December 7, 2024 election. The move hints at a possible run-off, potentially altering the fragile balance of Ghana’s 9th Parliament.
The petition, filed by an unnamed contender, challenges the EC’s declaration of the Ano Dompre result, citing missing tally sheets and unverified votes. Sources indicate the court, seeking Mensa’s testimony by March 5, aims to probe whether these flaws justify a re-vote under Ghana’s electoral laws. The constituency’s outcome—yet to be officially gazetted—could shift the current parliamentary split, where the NDC holds 136 seats and the NPP 137.
Mensa, a polarizing figure since overseeing the 2020 polls, faces renewed scrutiny after technical hitches marred recent elections. Her appearance could either uphold the initial victor or spark Ghana’s first parliamentary run-off since 2004, intensifying political stakes. The NPP and NDC, already clashing over Mahama’s early tenure, are mobilizing legal teams, with the EC’s handling of the Ano Dompre vote under a microscope.
Speculation swirls that unresolved collation errors might force a fresh poll, echoing past disputes like Akwatia’s 2024 saga. Ghanaians, still reeling from a contentious election cycle, await Mensa’s defense of the EC’s process. A run-off, if ordered, would test the commission’s credibility and Mahama’s call for unity in his February 27 State of the Nation Address. As the courtroom drama unfolds, Ano Dompre’s fate could redefine Ghana’s political landscape.
Source: Ghanaweb
