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NDC files another election petition
Opinion, Politics

NDC files another election petition

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has filed an election petition – this time with the Inspector-General of Police – over alleged infractions by the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) in last year’s polls. According to the legal team of the party, this is in direct response to the apparent challenge thrown by the EC over allegations made by John Dramani Mahama. After Mr Mahama alleged that the EC had stuffed the ballot boxes with over one million votes to favour incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the EC called on police to investigate this claim. “This is a grave matter that undermines the credibility of our electoral process and should not be ignored,” a Deputy Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, told journalists at a press conference on Monday, October 25. “We call on [John Dramani Mahama] to provide evidence to support this claim,” he demanded. “This is not a matter that should be ignored and we call on the Ghana Police Service to investigate.” At a press briefing on Tuesday, November 9, member of NDC’s Legal Team Abraham Amaliba disclosed that “the party saw it fit to as it were present to the IGP the evidence that we have complained about that over one million presidential ballot papers were printed by the EC and that we thought that that affected the credibility of the elections”. He said the largest opposition party wants the conduct of the EC to be brought to book. The two-pronged petition, according Mr Amaliba, wants the IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare “to investigate and then prosecute persons who were involved in the printing of the over one million excess ballot papers”. “These persons could also include Innolink, one of the companies that had the responsibility to print the ballot papers and whose care we saw the excess one million ballots.” He said the second part is seeking an update on the “atrocities and violence” that took place in the elections. “What has the police done so far? Have they prosecuted anybody? Have they opened any docket?” —3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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NDC’s Afriyie Ankrah satisfied with EC’s Dr Serebour Quaicoe attitude
Politics

NDC’s Afriyie Ankrah satisfied with EC’s Dr Serebour Quaicoe attitude

The former’s Director of Elections of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed some level of satisfaction praises on the recent attitude from the Director of Electoral Services. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah who was speaking during a discussion on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM monitored by Apexnewsgh.com said he has been impressed by the recent attitude of Dr Serebour Quaicoe. In 2020, the NDC boycotted a two-day workshop on elections and shot down all the reforms agreed by parties at the workshop. Meanwhile, four key reforms were agreed to by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC). But the NDC demanded that a reform of the attitude of the Electoral Commission itself should crank up any reforms to be proposed. “First of all, we want a reform of their attitude. That’s number one,” the former Youth and Sports Minister told host Adwoa Tabi. “We want Bossman Asare to withdraw that prejudicial statement which is on record,” he added, referring to a pronouncement by the Deputy Chair of the EC in charge of Corporate Services that the NDC was an “existential threat” to Ghana’s democracy. “And for once, let me admit that his tone and tenor and manner were very different from what I have been seeing. “He said oh the proposals they put forward are subject to discussion and inputs and therefore if the NDC has any other proposals, they are ready and willing to listen and engage. That is the kind of attitude that we want from an Electoral Commission that is paid by taxpayers, that is to serve the interest of political parties.” He told the host of the program monitored by Apexnewsgh.com Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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NDC TURN DOWN EC 3PM ELECTION POLL CLOSURE, SAYS 5PM WORKED PERFECTLY SINCE 1992 Elvis Afriyie Ankrah
Politics

NDC TURN DOWN EC 3PM ELECTION POLL CLOSURE, SAYS 5PM WORKED PERFECTLY SINCE 1992

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has turned down a suggestion by the Electoral Commission to close polls at 3 pm during elections instead of the previous 5 pm. EC adopted the suggestion during an inter-party advisory committee meeting which the NDC boycotted. At a press conference on Thursday, 20 May 2021, organized by the party, the Director of Elections of the party told the press that the NDC saw the proposal “baffling and mind-boggling”. According to him, “Since the 1992 elections, polls have always closed at 5PM. This has worked perfectly without any challenges whatsoever. It, therefore, beggars’ belief that the EC would want to change this time-tested arrangement and go for a poorly thought-through alternative which is bound to disenfranchise eligible voters and create needless problems for our electoral system”, Mr Elvis Afriye Ankrah pointed. Read the NDC’s full statement below: PRESS STATEMENT THEME: ASSESSING THE SO-CALLED ACHIEVEMENTS AND ELECTORAL REFORM PROPOSALS OF THE JEAN MENSAH-LED ELECTORAL COMMISSION. 20th May 2020 Good afternoon distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media. You are welcome to the Headquarters of the NDC for this all-important press conference. The NDC has taken notice of several false claims made by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa in her speech delivered at the just-ended two-day workshop between the EC and the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) at Alisa Hotel in Accra. The purpose of this press conference is to formally respond to and expose the many unfounded claims peddled by the EC Chairperson in her speech at the program and to explain to you the reasons for our boycott of these IPAC engagements. Friends from the media, contrary to the claims by the EC Chairperson that the 2020 general elections was the best ever in the history this country and calls for the nation to celebrate some so-called unprecedented successes chalked by the EC in the conduct of the elections, the facts show that last year’s elections was one of the most poorly conducted, flawed and manipulated elections in the history of this country, a situation that has undermined the strides we have made since the inception of this 4th republican democratic dispensation. And we say this for the following reasons: The dubious handling of the printing and distribution of ballot papers and other electoral materials that led to ballot stuffing by the NPP in their strongholds and other regions. The unprecedented number of rejected ballots recorded in the elections owing largely to the incompetence and recklessness of the EC in using unapproved stamp pads instead of the approved voting ink pad that we have used in previous elections. The use of illegal Statement of Polls/pink sheets (Form 8B) that omitted BVD entries in about 7,581 polling stations, thereby undermining the ballot accounting process and the integrity of the entire results. This totally belies the claim by Jean Mensa that only 11,000 people voted by manual verification in the 2020 general elections. Widespread cases of patent arithmetic errors on the faces of pink sheets and constituency results summary sheets by incompetent EC staff in the filling of electoral forms and aggregation of valid votes. Manipulation of figures by the EC leading to a disparity between constituency collated results aggregate (13,118,640) and regional collated results aggregates (13,119,460). Padding of votes at the constituency collation centers in favor of candidate Akufo-Addo. No proper collation at the national collation center by the Returning Officer for the Presidential elections, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa. Unprecedented cases of state-sponsored violence and killings at constituency collation centers occasioned by the reckless and unlawful conduct of some EC officials and the despotic Akufo-Addo government and in contravention of our time-tested election security arrangement. Also contrary to the claim that the International community has hailed the conduct of the 2020 general elections as Jean Mensah will have us believe, the European Union is on record to have decried the non-transparency of the collation process for the elections. So flawed was the conduct of the 2020 general elections that for the first time in the history of this country, a whole district made up of the Satrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi (SALL) communities were deliberately disenfranchised by the EC for the sole purpose of assisting the New Patriotic Parliamentary Candidate, John Peter Amewu win the Hohoe seat. Is this what Jean Mensa and her bias Commission is inviting us to celebrate? Again, the claim by the EC that an amount of $90 million was saved in the conduct of the 2020 general elections is completely contrived. The facts show that the state incurred avoidable financial losses as a result of the procurement of a facial recognition technology by the EC that turned out as a fiasco. It is therefore ridiculous and laughable to say the least, that an Electoral Management Body that has failed to pay its temporary staff their allowances, five (5) months after an election will make the claim that they have saved the nation money. We wish to entreat the public to treat this baseless claim with the contempt it deserves and wait for a credible audit into the EC’s expenditure for the 2020 general elections. PROPOSED REFORMS BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, we have taken note of some proposals for reforms that the Electoral Commission has put forward for the consideration of IPAC. However, the first and most important reform required is for the EC to reform itself. Jean Mensa and Bossman Asare must be the first to reform and change their attitude of arrogance and bias. Ladies and gentlemen of the media, I will now proceed to do a critical and objective analysis of the four (4) reform proposals put forward by the EC. Closure of polls at 3pm in 2024 Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the NDC finds the proposal by the Jean Mensa-led EC to change the closing time of polls from 5PM to 3PM in 2024 baffling and mind-boggling. Since the 1992 elections, polls have always

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NDC letter to EC says they obtained 47%, as they requested for their refund of Parliamentary and Presidential filing fee Former President John Dramani Mahama and President Akufo Addo
Politics

NDC letter to EC says they obtained 47%, as they requested for their refund of Parliamentary and Presidential filing fee

The Opposition National Democratic Congress has confirmed in a letter written to the Electoral Commission requesting for a refunds that, they got a total of 47.396 percent valid votes in the 2020 election. After the 2020 election the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were not in agreement with the EC result declaration. Which saw a series of Demonstrations across the country. However, Supreme Court is yet to declare its verdict tomorrow March 4, 2021 after some series court challenge by the NDC. But surprisingly, Apexnewsgh.com has captured letter dated 29-2-2021 requesting for the refund of Parliamentary and Presidential filing fee for the 2020 general elections. And in this letter, the NDC made it clear that they got a total of 47 percent valid votes in the 2020 election. Below is the letter:     Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Run-Off is required as no Candidate got 50 Percent of valid votes’ cast – Mahama to Supreme Court
Politics

Run-Off is required as no Candidate got 50 Percent of valid votes’ cast – Mahama to Supreme Court

The Petitioner in the 2020 election Petition trial says a run-off is required since no candidate in the December 7 polls obtained 50 percent valid votes cast. The case of the Petitioner is simply that, in addition to fundamental constitutional infractions committed by the Electoral Commission chairperson, who was the returning officer of the Presidential Election, the figures announced in the declaration she herself made on December 9, 2020, no candidate got more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast and, as a constitutional consequence, a run-off election would be required. These were contained in former President John Dramani Mahama, the petitioner’s closing address filed by his lawyers at the Supreme Court. Mr Mahama argued that the evidence from the terms of the declaration and the consideration that the EC Chairperson said were the basis of the declaration she was making, led to the conclusion that “Nana could only be credited with 49.625 percent of the votes at the time.” Mr Mahama said “The fact that Petitioner is not indicating in this Petition what he or the other candidates should have obtained compared to numbers declared by the EC, cannot lead to a conclusion that the declaration by the EC Boss is constitutional.” According to Mr Mahama his own figures are “not relevant to determining whether that claim is well-founded or not.” Mr Mahama invited the court to take judicial notice of the fact that, ahead of the December 7, 2020 elections, political parties were urged not to seek to announce results based on figures they had collated but to wait the official declaration of the EC Boss as the returning officer for the Presidential Election. He explained that the EC under provisions of Articles 43-54, 56 (7), 63 and 65 of the Constitution and CI 127 is charged with the conduct of the Elections. Mr Mahama said “the starkly untenable nature of the claim that the petitioner should have put towards his own figures is put in sharp relief when it is recalled that, by virtue of Article 64 (1) of the Constitution, any citizen of Ghana can present a petition challenging the validity of the election of the president. A citizen, in bringing such a challenge, would not be required to indicate the exact number of votes that candidates ought to have obtained. Being a candidate does not change qualification for bringing such a Petition and cannot require more than any other citizen.” He recalled that “No one is asking Nana Addo either to bring his figures or the number of votes he and other candidates got, nor has Nana put forward his figures in this petition as that would have no relevance in the court before the court.” Accordingly, the Petitioner discharged the burden of proof that was on him. The Petitioner avers that “the unsigned press statement was not only correcting the alleged wrong total valid votes cast figures announced by Mrs Jean Mensa in her declaration on December 9, 2020. It also went on, explicably, to adjust the votes obtained by candidates Mahama and Akuffo-Addo as declared for them on December 9, 2020. Votes of other candidates were also adjusted.” All this, the Petitioner said was done outside the framework provided by CI 127 and particularly, without the involvement of the agents of the candidates, contrary to the requirement of Articles 49 (2) and (3) of the Constitution and Regulation 44 (10) of CI127. “Paragraph 29-30 of the amended Petition are very clear on how the Press Release issued on December 10, 2020 compounds the lack of transparency, fairness and candour of the 1st Respondent (EC) in the ever-changing figures,” the Petitioner said. The Petitioner said the figure in the purported “correction” as to the total valid votes cast was itself repudiated by first Respondent (EC) by the time the answer to the Petition was filed on January 9, 2021. “It defied logic that the 1st respondent (EC) issued a “correction” on 10th December 2020 to a figure which is now claimed to have been the actual figure purported on Form 13 on December 9, 2020.” Mr Mahama said “in the midst of changing figures of total valid votes cast as well as votes of individual candidates, it simply cannot be said that the overall results on Form 13 were not affected, especially when the figures claimed to have been form 13 are different from figures in the “correction” on December 10 2020.” He contended that there were discrepancies in figures provided for candidates of other parties and “the material increase of Akuffo-Addo whiles at the same time materially reducing the votes of the Petitioner clearly requires explanation.” Mr Mahama said fundamentally, there was no evidence from the EC on the basis of which any of its contradictory claims could be accepted as “the truth.” Petitioner held that attempt to “effect a correction by an unsigned press release is wholly untenable.” According to the Petitioner the testimony of the three witnesses for the Petitioner showed clearly not only the breach of the duty to be fair and candid under Article 23 of the Constitution but also the lack of due process in terms Article 296 of the Constitution. Petitioner submitted that when matters of breaches of the Constitution or of Statute arose before a court there was urgency about addressing those breaches. Mr Mahama said the conduct of the EC Chairperson in sending the agents of a major candidate who should have been present in the resolution of the outstanding issues leading to the declaration and “immediately going ahead to make the declaration without even the required steps under the Regulation 44(10) were self-evidently unreasonable.” Ghana Guardian Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Election Petition: Your reactions to rulings should be within the law – Atuguba warns William Atuguba
Opinion

Election Petition: Your reactions to rulings should be within the law – Atuguba warns

A retired justice of the Supreme Court William Atuguba has told parties in the ongoing election petition hearing that they should act within the framework of the law if they disagree with the court’s rulings. Justice Atuguba who was part of the bench that handled the 2013 election petition hearing indicated that “court decisions on matters of this kind have various impacts and effects, depending on the circumstances in each country. “What I will say is that even if anybody is aggrieved with the ruling, their reactions should be within the framework of the rule of law.” “The Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice, have been vetted and approved by Parliament, who are the representatives of the people, so it is important for all actors, particularly the lawyers and the adjudicators, to bear in mind at all times that the decision of the court involves the sovereign welfare of the people of Ghana,” he told the Daily Graphic. Ghana’s apex court is currently hearing the election petition brought before it by the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in last year’s elections. Lead counsel of the petitioner in the ongoing election petition hearing Tsatsu Tsikata has yet again made a case for the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling on Tuesday, February 16. The seven justices of the apex court of Ghana unanimously dismissed the application of the petitioner, John Dramani Mahama, for the case to be re-opened in order to subpoena the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC), the First Respondent, to testify in court as a “hostile witness”. On Monday, February 22, Mr Tsikata questioned the basis of the ruling, saying the justices themselves were surprised when the First Respondent closed its case without calling its witness, Jean Adukwei Mensah, to testify. Mr Tsikata said the justices may have their reasons for the decision to dismiss the application but “it is the ruling of the panel that we are here to question”. “I am not in the minds of the panel,” he stressed. He further argued that for Mrs Mensa to have filed a witness statement meant that she was committed to mount the witness box. “We have no reason to say she was not telling the truth,” he said. For him, the Holy Bible should guide the nine justices reviewing the case, quoting Hosea 8:7. For him, the Holy Bible should guide the nine justices reviewing the case, quoting Hosea 8:7. It states: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.” He concluded: “May each of the lordships decide based on your conscience and your judicial oath.” Counsels for the respondents – Justin Amenuvor for the First Respondent and Akoto Ampaw for the Second Respondent – asked the Court to set aside the review application since it does not merit its prayer. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Your fundamental errors caused miscarriage of justice – Mahama writes to Supreme Court
Politics

Your fundamental errors caused miscarriage of justice – Mahama writes to Supreme Court

Former President John Dramani Mahama, the Petitioner in the ongoing Election Petition, is seeking a review of the Supreme Court’s ruling against his motion to re-open his case. The Supreme Court on February 16, 2021, chaired BY Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah dismissed the application in which the Petitioner was asking to be allowed to re-pen his case and subpoena the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) to mount the witness box as his “hostile witness.” This was after lawyers of the EC, the 1st Respondent and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, 2nd Respondent waived their rights to adduce evidence. The unanimous ruling of the apex court was to the effect that, the Petitioner has not demonstrated any exceptional grounds that should warrant the Court to exercise its discretion in his favour. However, in a motion for Review which has been tabled for hearing on Monday, February 22, the Petitioner in his affidavit in support of the motion stated that the fundamental errors have occasioned a miscarriage of justice against him. Below is the full affidavit in support of the motion for review PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that this Honourable Court shall be moved by Counsel for and on behalf of Petitioner/Applicant herein (Applicant), praying for an order of the Court reviewing its Ruling delivered on 16th February 2021 in respect of an application by Applicant to re-open his case; UPON the grounds set forth in the Statement of Case and the accompanying affidavit, and for such further or other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit. AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT l, JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA, of House No. 33 Chain Homes, Airport valley Drive, Accra, make oath and say as follows: I am the Petitioner and Applicant herein. The facts in this affidavit, unless otherwise stated, are within my personal knowledge, information or belief. On 16th February 2021, this Court delivered a unanimous ruling refusing an application by me to re-open my case for the purpose of causing a subpoena to be issued and directed at Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa to appear in court to be cross-examined by my Counsel. The ruling is attached to this affidavit and marked as Exhibit “3RD REVIEW 1”. At the hearing of this application, I shall, through my Counsel, seek leave of this Honourable Court to refer to all processes filed in this case up to the date of the hearing of the application. In respect of Exhibit 3rd Review 1″, I am advised by Counsel and verily believe that the Court made fundamental errors of law, including the ruling being per incuriam of constitutional provisions, statutes and previous decisions of the Supreme Court. “Among these errors, I am advised by Counsel and verily believe, is an error whereby the Court subordinates a provision in the Evidence Act to a rule in subsidiary legislation by the Rules of Court Committee. “Attached herewith marked as Exhibit 3 RD REVIEW 2″ and 3 RD REVIEW 3″ are the two affidavits of the Chairperson of 1 st Respondent, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, whose legal effect (by virtue of the Evidence Act), the ruling attempts to sidestep by recourse to subsidiary legislation. “The fundamental errors which have occasioned a miscarriage of justice against me are set out in the Statement of Case herewith attached. “I am advised and verily believe that they constitute exceptional circumstances that warrant the Court reviewing its own decision. “WHEREFORE I swear to this affidavit in support of the application herein.” kasapa Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Breaking News: Mahama can’t reopen case to cross-examine Jean Mensa – Supreme Court
Politics

Breaking News: Mahama can’t reopen case to cross-examine Jean Mensa – Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Ghana has ruled that former President John Mahama, the petitioner in the ongoing election petition, cannot reopen his case after closing it. Chief Justice Anin Yeboah read the ruling in court on Tuesday, 16 February 2021. He quoted several authorities to buttress the court’s position. “A mere filing of a witness statement is not an election to testify”, Justice Anin Yeboah said, adding: “We accordingly refuse that application”. Mr Mahama’s lead counsel, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, had argued in court on Monday, 15 February that his side intended reopening the case so that it could subpoena the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, as a “hostile” or “adverse” witness if leave had been granted by the court to his side’s prayer. Mr Tsikata also insisted that for the sake of the God Mrs Mensa worships, it was important for her to mount the witness box. In his counter-arguments against the reopening of the case, Mr Justin Amenuvor, lead counsel for the EC said allowing Mr Tsikata to cross-examine Mrs Mensa as a hostile witness would be an abuse of the legal process. Also, Mr Akoto Ampaw, the lead counsel for President Nana Akufo-Addo, the second respondent in the case, argued that the party that bore the burden of proof, “as the petitioner does in this matter, must effectively meet that burden of proof”. Prior to Monday’s hearing, Mrs Mensa, the star witness of the first respondent, the EC, deposed to an affidavit opposing Mr Mahama’s push prayer to the apex court to reopen his case. The affidavit said the EC “decided that it would not waste time and effort over the tottering case” of Mr Mahama, “hence, my decision not to testify because there was nothing to testify about”. Mrs Mensa added: “The 1st respondent is opposed to the said application and says that the application is not warranted by any rule of law or procedure and the same should be dismissed by this honourable court”. “I am advised and verily believe that the application does not show sufficient reason for the court to permit the petitioner to reopen his case. I am advised that reopening a case is not a remedy for the asking; the applicant must show the harm to be suffered if the case were not reopened. The petitioner skipped this requirement”. “Again, I am advised that the petitioner’s lawyers were confident when they closed his case without reservation, and this court ought not to permit proceedings before it to drag unduly on the basis of a party’s afterthought and inability to prove its case in court,” the affidavit said. The EC added that the “petitioner entered into the contest herein believing that he would testify if need be. It became clear, too soon, that the petitioner’s case drifted into departures from the Strong Room by the petitioner’s agent of his own volition and grievances that I had served ‘tea without biscuits’ to the petitioner’s agent who had left the Strong Room to be in my secretariat”. “The 1st Respondent Commission decided that it would not waste time and effort over the tottering case hence my decision not to testify because there was nothing to testify about”. “Again, the petitioner deposes in support of his case to matters concerning ‘the biometric verification process for which huge sums of taxpayers’ money was spent.’ These are matters that have sprung up in this application for the first time and do not form the basis of the petitioner’s petition”. “I verily believe that there are more convenient fora (forums) for ventilating the so-called public interest issues and further that this should not form the basis of the petitioner re-opening his case in a presidential election petition in court”. “The petitioner deposes in the supporting affidavit further that this court has the power to summon me, as a witness. I am advised and verily believe that the application is an abuse of this honourable court’s process insofar as it does not tell this court whether I am needed as a witness for the petitioner or for the 1st Respondent or what I am required to say”. “I verily believe that this court has power to call a witness suo motu but not a party, let alone a party adjudged to have a vested right to decide not to testify”. “I am opposed to the petitioner being granted leave by this honourable court to re-open a case that he closed of his own volition without compulsion”. “I am advised that even if this court grants leave for the petitioner to reopen its case; it ought not cause a subpoena to be issued against me because a subpoena is issued with coercive effect,” Mensa noted. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093

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Jean Mensa should take the box, tell the truth and the truth shall set her free – Dominic Ayine Dominic Ayine
Politics

Jean Mensa should take the box, tell the truth and the truth shall set her free – Dominic Ayine

A spokesperson for the petitioner, John Dramani Mahama in the ongoing Election Petition case has urged the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa to avail herself and mount the witness box for cross-examination. Speaking to the press after today’s court hearing, Dr Dominic Ayine indicated that a truthful testimony under oath will set her free and will be in honour of the God she serves. “Jean Mensa should voluntarily take the box, tell the truth and that truth shall set her free as the Returning Officer of this elections. There is no better way to glorify God than to tell the truth, the truth is very important, if you want to glorify God you take an oath and you tell the truth. Jean Mensa should take the box, tell the truth and the truth shall set her free – Dominic Ayine Quoting the Good Book to buttress his point, Dr Ayine noted that “Christ himself said it, in the gospel of John 8:32 that you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” This comment follows a decision by counsels for the 1st and 2nd Respondents not to call forth any witnesses to testify. Following that, Mr Mahama filed a new application to reopen his case so he can subpoena Jean Mensa to testify after she refused to mount the witness box. However, the Supreme Court during its hearing on Thursday, February 11 ruled that it cannot compel Jean Mensa to testify against her will. Arguing his case in court for a reopening of Mahama’s case, Monday, the lead counsel for the Petitioner, Tsastu Tsikata told the apex court that if the Electoral Commission Chair, Jean Mensa testifies to the truth, she will honour the God that she serves. He said that Jean Mensa is a witness “who gave glory to God for what she was doing” and added that she should assume the witness box in honour of the God that she gave glory to in making a “purported declaration”. “My Lord, the statement I am making is that it would honour that God if she would come forward as a witness of truth,” he added. Both the EC and Akufo-Addo’s legal team are of the opinion that the petitioner has lost his footing in the case, hence their pursuit of Jean Mensa as a witness to revive their case. Dominic Ayine, however, refuted that assertion, stating that Mahama’s legal team wants Jean Mensa to testify in order to account for the conflicting numbers she declared. “If you look at C.I. 99 it does not provide against compelling a witness to come and testify. So the subpoena that we are seeking to issue is in pursuit of the truth, we want Ghanaians to know how 51.589 became 50.08 something. “Ghanaians have the constitutional right to know and so for you to say that just by reason only of the fact that we are seeking to get her to come and testify, we are doing so because our case is empty and there is no evidence to prove it is totally disingenuous,” he stressed. Meanwhile, the court has adjourned proceedings to Tuesday, February 16 to deliver its ruling on the reopening of the petitioner’s case. Myjoyonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093

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Election petition before the Supreme Court had political dimensions aside the legal—Martin Kpebu Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu
Politics

Election petition before the Supreme Court had political dimensions aside the legal—Martin Kpebu

Martin Kpebu a private legal practitioner, has revealed that the ongoing election petition before the Supreme Court is wearing a political lance aside the legal. Mr. Kpebu who spoke on Joy News PM Express programme monitored by Apexnewsgh.com, stressed that the opposition NDC, whose flagbearer John Dramani Mahama is the petitioner in the case, is selling what he described as ‘the case of a stolen verdict’. “This case is not purely a legal case; it is also very political. What I see at play here apart from the legal aspect is that NDC is seriously selling the case of a stolen verdict. Seriously selling”. He stated According to Mr. Kpebu, what is at the bottom of the election, is that EC made errors and somebody benefitted “So, what is happening is that each day as we get up and talk about this case, what is at the bottom of it (is), that the EC made some errors, and then to the layman, that somebody benefitted,” he submitted. However, the petitioners have registered some level of displeasure over a number of rulings and directions on case management issued by the court.  Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.

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