Techiman High Court throws out parliamentary petition against NPP’s Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah

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The Techiman High Court has dismissed a parliamentary petition filed by Christopher Beyere Baasongti, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the 2024 election, against Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Techiman South.

Baasongti challenged the election results declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) and gazetted on January 7, 2025, by filing a petition on January 27, 2025. However, on January 31, 2025, Adjei Mensah Korsah, represented by his lawyer, Gary Nimako Marfo, submitted a motion to have the petition dismissed.

The MP argued that Baasongti failed to meet legal requirements by not providing security for costs within the mandated 21-day period after the gazette notification, as stipulated by Section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Law, 1992 (PNDCL 284). This non-compliance, he contended, rendered the petition invalid, leading to its dismissal by the court.

On February 17, 2025, the High Court heard the motion and ruled in favor of Adjei Mensah Korsah. The court held that Baasongti’s petition was not properly filed due to the failure to apply for security for cost within the stipulated timeframe, making it legally invalid.

Baasongti was represented in court by Abdul-Hameed Zakaria, while Adjei Mensah Korsah was represented by the NPP’s director of legal affairs, Gary Nimako Marfo.

This ruling upholds Adjei Mensah Korsah’s position as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Techiman South.