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Minority leader raises concerns over delayed ruling in Kpandai election case
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has raised serious concerns about delays and missed timelines by the High Court in Tamale in the ongoing Kpandai parliamentary election dispute.
In a facebook post, Mr Afenyo-Markin drew attention to the conduct of Justice Manuel Bart-Plange Brew, who was expected to deliver a ruling on December 18 2025 but did not sit.
According to him, no ruling was delivered, no new date was announced, and parties were only informed that the judge was indisposed.
He stressed that the incident was not isolated and formed part of what he described as a troubling pattern in the same case.
The Minority Leader recalled that on November 24 2025, the High Court nullified the entire Kpandai parliamentary election and ordered a fresh poll, even though the election petition focused on alleged irregularities in only some polling stations.
The decision removed Matthew Nyindam from office, despite him winning the election with 27,947 votes against 24,213, a margin of 3,734 votes.
He noted that after the judgment, lawyers for Mr Nyindam requested the written ruling but faced delays before it was eventually released days later. He explained that the delay already raised concerns, given the serious impact of the decision.
Mr Afenyo-Markin further stated that Parliament went ahead to treat the Kpandai seat as vacant and notified the Electoral Commission of Ghana, even though an appeal and an application for certiorari were already before the courts.
He added that the Minority protested this move and called for restraint until all court processes were completed, but their objections were ignored.
According to him, Mr Nyindam later filed a stay of execution application, and Justice Brew fixed a mid-December date to rule on it. December 18 2025 was publicly announced as the ruling date, making it significant for Parliament and the Electoral Commission, which had already begun acting on the assumption that the seat was vacant.
However, when the date arrived, the judge did not appear, no ruling was delivered, and no fresh date was announced.
The Minority Leader explained that the matter is now before the Supreme Court of Ghana, which on December 16 2025 issued an interim order directing the Electoral Commission to suspend all steps toward a rerun election in Kpandai until the case is determined.
He questioned why courts fix firm ruling dates but fail to meet them and called for clearer explanations when such delays occur, especially in cases with national and constitutional importance.
Mr Afenyo-Markin stressed that respect for the judiciary remains important but added that fairness, transparency and timely justice are also critical.
He called on Justice Brew to promptly deliver a clear ruling on the stay application to bring certainty to the case.
He concluded that the people of Kpandai, Parliament and all state institutions involved deserve clarity, warning that justice delayed, especially after a far-reaching judgment, undermines public confidence in the justice system.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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