Joe Ghartey In Hot Water, Slapped GHC 4,000 -As Court Dismisses Application Not To Hear Parliamentary Election Petition

The Sekondi High Court today dismissed an application by controversially elected Member of Parliament for Essikado/Ketan, Joe Ghartey. Mr. Ghartey wanted an election petition filed by his main contestant in the 2020 Parliamentary elections, dismissed.

Mr. Ghartey, a lawyer of many years standing did not amuse the court with his argument to have dismissed the case filed against his legitimacy by the parliamentary candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah. 

Mr. Ghartey had prayed the court to strike out the election petition on grounds that the petition was signed by the petitioner’s Lawyer and not herself.

Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere, took his time to cite a slew of references for Mr. Ghartey in an unsolicited tutorial before dismissing the application as bogus in law.

“Lawyers act as client’s agent litigation in which case, they can sign on behalf of their clients,” His Lordship told Joe Ghartey.

In his ruling, he also explained that a parliamentary election petition is a writ in a different form that can be signed by a lawyer.

“In conclusion, the petition before me is competent, as it complied with our electoral laws and rules of procedure. The result is that the application is dismissed and the action shall take its normal course,” Justice Osei Hwere ruled.

He then slapped Mr. Ghartey with a cost of Ghc4000.

During the 2020 polls, the Esikado/Ketan Parliamentary was one of the many that was characterized by dubious results.

After collation at the Polling stations had indicated that the NDC’s Danquah Ayensu had won, the results sheets got to the collation centre for collation by the EC. However, somehow, the EC told Dr. Ayensu that a hitch had developed and that the collation would continue later.

However, immediately Dr. Ayensu and her team left the centre, the results were declared for Joe Ghartey.

Dr. Ayensu and the Western Regional NDC, therefore, sued Joe Ghartey and the EC over the dubious results.