The Koforidua High Court has dismissed a parliamentary election petition filed by former Suhum MP, Kwadjo Asante, ruling that the case was without merit and failed to establish any credible evidence of electoral irregularities.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, December 18, Member of Parliament for Akuapim North, Sammi Awuku, disclosed that cross-examination by lawyers for the respondents exposed major weaknesses in the petitioner’s claims, leaving the court with no basis to overturn the election results.
According to Mr Awuku, the court was convinced that the petition lacked substance, particularly after the legal team for the respondents, led by Lawyer Frank Davies Nimako, dismantled the petitioner’s arguments during cross-examination.
“The court dismissed the case on the grounds that the petition had no basis to stand on,” he said. “The cross-examination exposed the petitioner’s lack of evidence, making it impossible for the court to interfere with the outcome of the election.”
In its ruling, the court awarded GH¢200,000 in costs and damages against the petitioner, citing the time and resources expended during the year-long trial. The amount granted was higher than the GH¢50,000 proposed by the petitioner but lower than the GH¢500,000 requested by the respondents.
Kwadjo Asante, who contested the 2024 parliamentary election as an independent candidate, had asked the court to annul the Suhum results and order a re-run. However, the court upheld the declaration of Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa, as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Suhum.
Mr Bekoe won the seat with 16,855 votes, beating NDC’s Prince Kwadwo Addo Tabiri, who polled 15,259 votes, while Mr Asante secured 14,860 votes.
