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Ebi Bright contests Charles Forson’s election as Tema Central MP in court
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NDC parliamentary candidate for Tema Central, Ebi Bright has filed a petition at the High Court challenging the election of Charles Forson as a Member of Parliament.
She claims that the results upon which Charles Forson was declared as the winner of the election are not a true reflection of the polls.
According to the petition, the results included three polling station results fraught with irregularities.
Ebi Bright alleges that the original pink sheets for the three polling stations in the custody of the Electoral Commission had the names and signatures of the presiding officers while the duplicates given to the NDC did not have the same.
She alleges further that the total number of votes obtained by the candidates on the three original pink sheets does not tally with the total valid votes or total votes.
On the basis of these, she wants the court to invalidate the results from the three polling stations and overturn the declaration of Charles Forson as a Member of Parliament.
She, however, wants the court to refer to earlier results that excluded the three disputed polling stations which saw her being declared as a member of parliament.
In the alternative, she wants the court to order a re-run in the three polling stations.
On Saturday, January 4, an Accra High Court directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to complete the collation of results from two outstanding polling stations for the Tema Central constituency. This directive followed mandamus applications filed by New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidates in affected constituencies, compelling the EC to fulfil its statutory obligations.
Presiding over the cases, Justice Forson Agyapong explained the legal basis for mandamus applications, citing jurisdictional lapses, legal errors, and breaches of natural justice as valid grounds. He emphasized that the EC has a public duty to execute its responsibilities impartially and in accordance with the law.
In the case of Tema Central, the court found that the EC had failed to fulfil its duty by excluding the results from two polling stations. Justice Agyapong clarified that only the returning officer’s declaration is legally valid and directed the EC to complete the collation process at its Accra Regional Office.
Following the court-ordered collation, Charles Forson of the NPP was confirmed as the winner of the parliamentary race. Forson secured 18,870 votes, narrowly defeating the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ebi Bright, who garnered 18,815 votes. An independent candidate, Frederick Aniagyei, received 209 votes.
The total valid votes cast amounted to 37,894, with 144 rejected ballots, bringing the overall total votes to 38,038.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
Construction of a major underground stormwater drain along the Dr. Busia Highway within the Kaneshie enclave will commence on September 7, 2026.
The Project Coordinator for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo, announced this at a special media briefing on Wednesday.
According to him, the works will involve the construction of a double-cell underground rectangular drain measuring approximately 10 metres wide and 1.95 kilometres long, stretching from Pamprom Junction to First Light Junction.
The new drain will replace the existing two 1.2-metre diameter pipes, which are inadequate to carry the volume of stormwater in the area.
Dr. Sarfo said the drain will connect at one end to the recently completed section within the Accra Academy campus and at the other end to the existing drain at Pamprom Junction.
He said the construction is expected to run from September 2026 to October 2027.
The project forms part of government’s broader flood prevention and mitigation programme aimed at addressing perennial flooding in Accra.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the party’s National Chairmanship race.
In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman Wontumi who is currently serving a 20-year jail term said his decision was driven by his love for the party and his unwillingness to let his personal circumstances distract the NPP from its rebuilding efforts.
“There are moments in the life of a man when the heart wants to continue, but duty demands sacrifice. Moments when one must quietly set aside personal ambition, not because the dream has died, but because the family he loves must not be made to carry his burden. Today, I find myself at such a painful moment,” he wrote.
He disclosed that after many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters, he concluded that his present situation must not become an additional burden on the NPP.
“This is not the decision my heart desired, but sometimes, true love requires us to release what we deeply want in order to protect what we love even more,” he added.
Recounting his years of service, Chairman Wontumi said he had served the party with everything within him, walking through heat and rain, travelling to remote communities and standing with the grassroots in both victory and defeat.
“For many years, I have served the NPP with everything within me… The NPP is not merely a political party to me. It is my family. It is my home. It is a cause to which I have dedicated a significant part of my life,” he stated.
He explained that the party, already carrying the pain of electoral defeat and the huge responsibility of preparing for the future, should not be made to carry his personal weight.
“That is why I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding. I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead. I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me,” he said.
He further sympathized with his supporters across the 16 regions, acknowledging that the decision would be painful for many who had sacrificed for his campaign.
“To my teeming supporters across all sixteen regions, I know this message will hurt. I know many of you will read it with tears in your eyes because I understand the sacrifices you have made for this journey,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
