News:
August 15, 2013
Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu has appealed to the nine (9) Supreme Court Judges sitting on the 2012 election petition case to write their individual rulings on the matter.
The manner in which the verdict of the court will be delivered has been the subject for discussion among some political watchers.
While some are looking forward to the Justices writing and delivering their individual rulings on the case, others are of the view that the Judges put their thoughts together and the verdict delivered by the President of the Panel of Judges, Justice William Atuguba.
Hon. Ursula Owusu who was contributing to a discussion on Peace FM’ Kokrokoo show on Thursday posited that the Judges individually delivering their verdict on the matter would go a long way in developing the laws of the country.
The citizenry with baited breath now awaits the verdict of the petition case which has been running for the past eight months, in a legal battle which would justify the removal or retention of Mr John Dramani Mahama as the President of the Republic of Ghana.
The Supreme Court has finally fixed August 29, 2013 as the date for judgement after having disposed of more than 20 interlocutory applications, gathered evidence for four months, as well as received 344-page written addresses from lawyers in the petition.
The highest Court of the land will decide whether or not cancel 3,931,339 votes as a result of the petitioners’ claims of gross and widespread irregularities recorded at 10,119 polling stations during the 2012 presidential poll.
It will also be premised on whether or not to maintain that the declaration of Mahama as the winner of the December 7 and 8, 2012 presidential election was invalid.
Another decision to be considered by the court will be whether or not to declare Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the validly elected President.
It is also expected to make consequential orders it deems fit in the petition.
Issues complained of by Nana Akufo-Addo; his running mate, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, and the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, are that some persons were allowed to vote without undergoing biometric verification, some presiding officers did not sign pink sheets (statement of poll and declaration of result form for the office of President), there was over-voting and some pink sheets had duplicate serial numbers.
But the respondents, namely, President Mahama, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have denied the claims on the grounds that the petitioners have failed to prove the said infractions.
They also argue that the election was won by President Mahama on a clean slate and for that reason he should be maintained as President of Ghana.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh,with additional file from graphic.com.gh