The petitioners from the Santrofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) areas have filed an appeal against the Ho High Court’s decision that dismissed their lawsuit challenging John Peter Amewu’s election as the Member of Parliament for Hohoe.
The High Court dismissed the petition on Monday, July 29, citing a lack of jurisdiction.
The SALL enclave, consisting of 13 communities and approximately 17,000 voters, was excluded from the 2020 parliamentary elections.
Five residents from SALL had petitioned the High Court in Ho, seeking to annul the election that led to Mr. Amewu’s victory as MP. However, the court ruled that the petition effectively questioned the constitutionality of CI 128, the regulation under which the Electoral Commission conducted the 2020 elections.
Dissatisfied with the High Court’s judgment, the petitioners have appealed to the Court of Appeal.
They argue that, the trial judge erred by dismissing the petition based on the High Court’s purported lack of jurisdiction.
The petitioners believe their case warrants further consideration and are seeking a reversal of the High Court’s decision to ensure their concerns are properly addressed.
The appeal states that the trial judge failed to recognize that, according to a proper interpretation of CI 112, the SALL traditional areas did not become part of the Oti region but remained part of the Hohoe Municipality and Constituency, which did not require constitutional interpretation.
Additionally, the petitioners argue that the trial judge overlooked multiple statutory breaches by the Electoral Commission, which they claim rendered Mr. Amewu’s election void under the Representation of the People’s Law 1992 (PNDCL 284), Section 20(1)(b).
They are seeking reliefs, including an order to set aside the High Court’s judgment and a declaration that the election of Mr. Amewu as MP for Hohoe following the December 2020 parliamentary election is null and void.