Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a member of the Constitution Review Commission and a law clerk, has asserted that the Supreme Court’s orders regarding disputed parliamentary seats do not address whether the Electoral Commission (EC) can proceed with re-collation or re-declaration without court authorization.
Speaking during an interview on NewsFile on JoyNews, Barker-Vormawor emphasized that the court’s orders might not prevent the EC from conducting re-collation or re-declaration.
“Let’s be clear that the Supreme Court’s orders do not affect whether or not the EC can proceed with re-collation or re-declaration without court orders. It doesn’t answer that question for us,” he stated.
“It seems to me that being consistent with those declarations was unlawful, but the EC might proceed to conduct new re-collations, which may not necessarily be derived from the impugned High Court orders.”
Barker-Vormawor further explained that the Supreme Court did not intend to resolve this issue but instead acknowledged the authority of the High Court to make the appropriate determinations.
He added that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidates involved in the case would be afforded a fair hearing in the High Court.
In a ruling delivered late yesterday afternoon, Justice Rev. Fr. Joseph Adu Owusu Agyemang nullified the re-collation of results in four constituencies—Tema Central, Ablekuma North, Techiman South, and Okaikwei Central—citing electoral process challenges. However, the results for Nsawam Adoagyiri and Ahafo Ano North were withheld.
Barker-Vormawor reiterated that the Supreme Court’s orders do not directly impact the EC’s ability to conduct re-collation or re-declaration.
