KT Hammond
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahiru Hammond, popularly known as KT Hammond, has explained why he withdrew his petition challenging the election of Godwin Animli Dorgbadzi Dorani of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking at a press conference, the former Trade and Industry Minister disclosed that he instructed his lawyers to discontinue the case after realising that the petition had not been pursued within the legally required 21-day period.
“We filed a petition and a few things went wrong. The calculation of the 21 days was not clear, largely because the Electoral Commission issued two different gazette dates. Unfortunately, by the time I returned to my office, the 21 days had already lapsed,” he said.
Mr. Hammond blamed his legal team for what he described as negligence in handling the matter. He also expressed disappointment over suggestions that he had relied on a lawyer whose name was allegedly not on the bar list, stressing that the said lawyer was his classmate and had practised law for nearly four decades.
Despite withdrawing the petition, the former MP insisted that the 2024 parliamentary elections in Adansi Asokwa were fraught with irregularities, which compelled him to seek redress in court.
“I saw ballot boxes at a clinic – is that where we voted? The chaos was beyond description. I’m an experienced lawyer, and although I accept the court’s decision, I maintain that there were serious anomalies,” he stated.
Mr. Hammond further argued that the NDC’s victory in the constituency was not necessarily based on merit but rather because the New Patriotic Party (NPP) failed to fully mobilise its support base.
“In the previous election, I had close to 19,000 votes against their 12,000 to 13,000. This time, we secured over 20,000 votes. If they won with 14,229, then clearly, the NPP didn’t vote in full strength,” he added.
He also cautioned the newly elected MP, Godwin Animli, against making disparaging remarks about him or his family. “Don’t talk about my background or political affiliation. The people are already complaining. Concentrate on developing the constituency,” he advised.
Court Ruling and Costs
On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the Obuasi High Court, presided over by Justice Kwabena Twumasi, dismissed Mr. Hammond’s petition, describing it as a waste of the court’s time. The court awarded a cost of GH¢60,000 against him in favour of Mr. Dorani.
Reacting to the ruling, Mr. Hammond rejected the cost imposed and announced his intention to appeal. “I’m told a significant award of GH¢60,000 was made. If I appeal, I’ll do so in my own right, signing as the appellant in person. I consider the cost unfair,” he said.
KT Hammond lost the Adansi Asokwa seat, which he had held since 2001, after polling 13,275 votes against Mr. Dorani’s 14,229 – a margin of 954 votes.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke
Caption: KT Hammond