The Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight Kenneth Agyei Kuranchie has stated that prior to his court action over the validity of Former President John Dramani Mahama to contest in the 2024 general elections, he had petitioned Parliament on the same matter.
However, he said, his petition was ignored hence his decision to go to court.
The reliefs he is seeking include, “A declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of Article 66 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, the number of years of a presidential term in Ghana is four years.
“A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 66 (1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution, a person seeking a second presidential term must be a sitting president.
“An order directed at [John Mahama] to fully disclose to Parliament the terms of his engagements with Parliament as flagbearer of a political party.”
His action comes just 18 months to the next general elections on December 7, 2024.
Asked whether he considered the timing of the lawsuit while speaking on the Sunrise show on 3FM with Johnnie Hughes, Tuesday, June 13, Mr Kuranchie said “Ahead of the 2020 elections I raised this but unfortunately beyond writing articles and publishing them I did not pick any action.
“Ahead of this one, I published several articles, and I then proceeded to go to Parliament, I sent a petition to Parliament around early April hoping that they will take up the authority given to them by the constitution to bring them under their authority but I was ignored.”
Mr Mahama was recently elected flagbearer of the NDC for the 2024 general elections.
During the NDC’s primaries held on Saturday, May 13, 2023, he swept 297,603 (98.9%) of the total valid votes to become the party’s Presidential Candidate for the 4th time.