By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Former Member of Parliament for Adansi-Asokwa, Kobina Tahiru Hammond, has announced his intention to appeal the GH¢60,000 cost imposed on him by the Obuasi High Court following the dismissal of his petition challenging the outcome of the 2024 Parliamentary Elections.
Mr. Hammond, who lost his long-held seat in the December polls to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Godwin Dorani, filed a petition seeking to overturn the results. However, the court struck out the case after he failed to appear in court on three consecutive occasions.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, the former Trade and Industry Minister described the fine as unfair, attributing his absence to a mix-up with his legal representation.
“I’m not too upset with the judge. There was some mix-up; my lawyers did not attend, I’m told. You can understand. We filed a petition, but a few things went wrong,” he explained.
Mr. Hammond also expressed frustration with the Electoral Commission (EC), accusing it of creating confusion during the process.
“I was also confused because the Electoral Commission produced two different sets of dates. This is part of the issues that made the process frustrating,” he added.
He further argued that the NDC did not win the Adansi-Asokwa seat on merit but rather benefited from internal challenges within the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“The NDC won the election by default. For whatever reason, we in the NPP decided to hand over power on a silver platter. He didn’t win; we gave it away,” he said.
The veteran politician also alleged that there were irregularities in the December 2024 election, citing instances where ballot boxes were reportedly seen at unauthorized locations. He blamed voter apathy among sections of NPP supporters for compounding the party’s defeat.
On why the case was dismissed, Mr. Hammond rejected claims that his lawyer was unqualified, stressing that his legal team had the requisite expertise to represent him.
“He the judge suggested I filed the case through someone whose name was not even on the bar list. That is scandalous. This lawyer was my classmate at the university and law school, and he has practiced for almost 40 years,” he emphasized.
Despite the setback, the former Adansi-Asokwa MP insists that the GH¢60,000 cost imposed on him is excessive and unjustifiable, vowing to challenge it at the appellate level.
“I will appeal the cost awarded against me. I believe it is too harsh and not reflective of the circumstances surrounding the case,” he stated.
As the appeal process unfolds, Mr. Hammond’s petition and its dismissal have sparked fresh political debate over the 2024 elections, with some analysts describing the court’s sanction as punitive, while others view it as necessary to deter frivolous petitions.
