Ghana Votes

Friday, August 30, 2013

Nana Akufo-Addo to take some time off politics

"I will take some time out of the hurly-burly of politics..[and] rest", Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced, after losing out on a crucial Supreme Court ruling that could have sent him to the Flagstaff House as president.

He made this announcement at his Nima residence in Accra in the presence of several dejected supporters.

This announcement comes after a nine member panel of Supreme Court justices dismissed a petition brought by three stalwarts of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) who alleged fraud during the 2012 presidential elections.

They wanted the Court to unseat John Mahama, flagbearer of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the winner according to a declaration by the Electoral Commission.

This bid was unsuccessful. In his concession speech, Nana Addo, saddened by the verdict, congratulated John Mahama who has now been confirmed twice as President. The 2012 NPP flagbearer thanked his Vice-Presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for doing a yeoman's job.

Nana Addo said despite the verdict, the petition will change the manner in which elections are organized in the country. He also thanked his "beautiful" wife, Rebecca.

He informed anxious supporters about his political future.

"I am sure there are many people wondering what I envisage for my political future. I intend to take some time out of the hurly burly of politics, get some rest, reflect and then announce whatever decision I come to in the not too distant future."

This is the NPP man's second attempt at the presidency after losing to the late President Evans Atta Mills in 2008 and John Mahama in 2012.

Source: myjoyonline

Supreme Court verdict is victory for Ghana -Women activists

Two women's right activists have described the Supreme Court verdict as a victory for all Ghanaians and called on political leaders to abide by their commitment to peace.

The two, Ms Dorcas Coker-Appiah, Executive Director of the Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre (Gender Centre), and Ms Edna Kumah of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), are of the view that the interest of the country should reign supreme.

After an eight-month legal tussle between the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December 2012 presidential election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; his running mate, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, and the Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, and respondents, President John Dramani Mahama, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the petition and declared President John Mahama the legitimate winner of the 2012 election.

In the weeks and even months preceding the verdict, various groups, including the National Peace Council and religious organisations as well as individuals called for peace before and after the verdict.

Ms Coker-Appiah, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, after the verdict, said "Finally, all is over and the Supreme Court has spoken, it is therefore imperative for all who are commited to peace to accept the results  and move on with their lives".

According to her, what should be of interest now was how to develop the country, saying that there was the need to continue with the execution of projects and programmes aimed at the rapid development of the country.

Ms Coker-Appiah mentioned that there was the need to address issues such as the fallen standards of education and access to education, stressing that this was the time for all to join hands in building the country.

"If we have said we will accept the verdict no matter the outcome, this is the time to show the rest of the world that we have grown in our democracy", she added.

To her the verdict of the Supreme Court should serve as a shining example to the rest of the world, and Africa as a continent, where civil wars and conflicts had become the order of the day.

She called on all to go on with their normal duties and cautioned the youth not to allow themselves to be coerced into engaging in any act of violence that would mar the peace the country had enjoyed over the years.

Ms Kumah, for her part, called on the leadership of the country to work at moving the country on the path of development, saying the country had been at a standstill for eight months now.

According to her, due to the Supreme Court hearings, the economy of the country had been slow, thereby making life difficult for a lot of people, especially women and children and therefore advised that with the ruling of the court, there was the need for all, especially the government, to work at developing the nation's economy.

However, she said without peace, the country could not develop, and, therefore, there was the need for all to ensure that there was peace in the country in order to attract foreign investments and support from development partners.

She said throughout the world and on the African continent in particular, most conflicts had started because of elections, and therefore called on Ghanaians to serve as a good trailblazers to the world by ensuring that peace prevailed.

"We are all Ghanaians and we are one people, the verdict affects all of us in different ways but let us all take it in good faith and move the country forward", she said.

She called on all irrespective of political affiliations to comfort one another, saying that grieving and jubilations should all be done in moderation.

Daily Graphic

'Supreme Court judgement victory for all'

Officials of peace and governance institutions in the country have described yesterday's Supreme Court ruling on the 2012 election petition as a victory for all Ghanaians and not for any particular party.

They commended the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for accepting the verdict in good faith, and urged Ghanaians to forge ahead in unity and tolerance, to further deepen the country's democratic practice.

Sharing some thoughts with the Daily Graphic on the Supreme Court ruling and the way forward, officials of the National Peace Council (NPC), the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP), the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) advised the victors to celebrate in moderation and avoid taunting their political opponents.

The Chairman of the NPC, Most Rev Prof. Emmanuel Asante, said as a people who believed in the rule of law, "we have no other option than to accept the verdict".

"We are grateful to God that it's all over now," he said, but the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana was quick to add that the ruling was not the end of the matter because the details were not yet known.

He advised members of the NDC to be circumspect in their jubilation and sensitive to the feelings of NPP supporters.

Reforms

Most Rev Prof. Asante said while awaiting the details of the ruling, which might include electoral reform issues, there was the need for stakeholders to engage in serious dialogue to pursue reforms in the country's political system.

For his part, the Executive Director of WANEP, Mr Emmanuel Bombande, said the ruling gave Ghana an opportunity to deepen and open its democratic space and bring an end to the 'winner-takes-all' system of government.

He said the ruling "is momentous in Ghana's democratic development", adding, "I think that every Ghanaian has won; so we should not think that some people have won and others have lost."

He said the election petition had raised Ghana's democratic credentials higher and that the positive strides would yield a lot of international goodwill for the nation in the coming days.

Good democratic institutions

Mr Bombande said the successful conclusion of the case demonstrated that institutions of state in the country were working.

Sharing a similar opinion, the Deputy Director of CDD-Ghana, Dr Franklin Oduro, said the Supreme Court verdict gave a lot of confidence that increasingly, Ghanaians were deepening their belief in democratic institutions.

He said the ruling was a demonstration of the operation of the rule of law and constitutionalism in Ghana.

Moving forward

Dr Oduro urged Ghanaians to reflect on the outcome of the election petition to build on the country's democratic process.

He underscored the need to strengthen the electoral process in order to avoid similar challenges in the future.

He said Nana Akufo-Addo's acceptance of the verdict was very significant because "that particular statement is a confirmation that we are ready to move on as a nation".

A Research Fellow at the Governance Unit of the IEA, Dr Ransford Gyampo, said the whole world was now watching how Ghana would deal with the aftermath of the election petition.

Appeal

Dr Gyampo appealed for calm and asked all Ghanaians to be law-abiding, adding that they must refrain from provocative celebration and taunting of political opponents.

He also appealed to the leadership of the political parties to demonstrate good faith and abide by the provisions of the Political Parties Code of Ethics on the need to ensure peace, stability, law and order.

Dr Gyampo, who is also a senior lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, called on Ghanaians to uphold the virtue of tolerance and politics of accommodation.

On the media, he said, they should endeavour to maintain absolute impartiality and avoid provocative discussions, while urging the security agencies to protect the peace of the country without fear or favour.

Source: Daily Graphic 

President Mahama, Veep, others jubilate over election petition victory

There was spontaneous jubilation at the seat of government in Accra yesterday, when the Supreme Court pronounced President John Dramani Mahama as the legitimate President of the country.

Moments after the verdict was announced, President Mahama, who was waiting anxiously for the judgement, in the company of the Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, and some ministers of state at the Flagstaff  House, hugged one another and sang to the glory of God.

Meanwhile, staff at the Presidency, some of whom were in white attires and white armbands, joyously came out of their offices, jubilated and congratulated one another.

The arrival of the legal team led by Messrs Tsatsu Tsikata and Tony Lithur, counsel for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President John Mahama, respectively, reignited the celebration.

Some of the ministers and other officials took turns to take pictures with the lawyers, who held the fort for the President and the NDC in the election petition for about eight months. Most of them did the victory sign.

The Vice-President, who briefed the media, said "we feel relieved at long last" but added that there was much work ahead which needed the efforts of all Ghanaians.

He said the poverty level in the country was unacceptable, stressing, "This is what the government will tackle now with all seriousness at all fronts".

"There is clear certainty now. We are working for growth and have no doubt, we will work together to put the economy on the right track and improve the lives of majority of the people," he said.

Vice-President Amissah-Arthur said because of the strong response to the petition, he was expecting that all the judges would score in favour of the President and added that "notwithstanding that I have absolute confidence in the justices of the Supreme Court".

He commended Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, one of the petitioners in the case, for accepting the verdict of the justices, calling to personally congratulate President Mahama on winning the case and for pledging to support the President to improve the lives of Ghanaians.

Source: Daily Graphic

Akufo-Addo congratulates President Mahama on Election Petition victory

True to his promise to accept the judgement of the Supreme Court, irrespective of whichever way it goes, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday declared his acceptance of the court's decision.

"While I disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept that what the court says brings a finality to the election dispute. We shall not be asking for a review of the verdict, so we can all move on in the interest of our nation," he told reporters at his Nima residence in Accra yesterday.

Earlier, he had called President John Mahama on phone and congratulated him minutes after the Supreme Court had pronounced its judgement.

He also urged Ghanaians to put the dispute behind them, unite, iron out their differences, ease the tension mong them and "come together and work to find solutions to the challenges that confront our people".

Wearing a grey suit over a white shirt and a blue tie, Nana Akufo-Addo, who was the first petitioner in the case, told journalists that the judgement of the Supreme Court should bring the election petition to an end.

Surrounded by party leaders, including Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, the third petitioner, and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the second petitioner, he told journalists: "Everything in my bones, in my upbringing and in what I have done with my life thus far makes it imperative that I accept a decision made by the highest court of the land, however much I dislike or disagree with it."

Reading from a prepared speech, Nana Akufo-Addo said he was saddened by the judgement and "I know that many of our supporters are saddened too".

He stressed that for the sake and love of Ghana, all must join hands to embark on a move "that builds, rather than destroys, to deal with our disappointment".

He made a passionate appeal to all members and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to accept the verdict of the court, adding that even in their disappointment, they could take pride in the way they had conducted themselves.

"Even in our disappointment, we can take pride that the NPP has again led the way in deepening Ghana's democracy," he stated, and quoted one of the Supreme Court judges who said, "After this case, elections in Ghana will not be the same."

Nana Akufo-Addo said although the petitioners did not get the ruling they wanted, thanks to their efforts they could hopefully look forward to an improved electoral process in the country.

He recounted that since independence, the petition was the maiden presidential election petition which had been filed and pursued through the courts and cautioned Ghanaians that "the whole world has watched us in wonder and admiration. Our reaction to this judgement will be watched keenly in Africa and beyond and will set a precedent for generations to follow".

On his future political career, Nana Akufo-Addo, who contested the 2008 and 2012 elections as the flag bearer of the NPP, said he would take some time off the hurly burly of politics, get some rest, reflect and later announce his decision.

He paid glowing tribute to his lawyers, researchers, party executives and his wife and daughters for their support in various forms.

He called on Ghanaians to wish President Mahama well and thank the Almighty God for His mercies on Ghana, while still repeating the NPP petition slogan: "The battle continues to be that of the Lord's."

He made a passionate appeal to all members and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to accept the verdict of the court, adding that even in their disappointment, they could take pride in the way they had conducted themselves.

"Even in our disappointment, we can take pride that the NPP has again led the way in deepening Ghana's democracy," he stated, and quoted one of the Supreme Court judges who said, "After this case, elections in Ghana will not be the same."

Nana Akufo-Addo said although the petitioners did not get the ruling they wanted, thanks to their efforts they could hopefully look forward to an improved electoral process in the country.

He recounted that since independence, the petition was the maiden presidential election petition which had been filed and pursued through the courts and cautioned Ghanaians that "the whole world has watched us in wonder and admiration. Our reaction to this judgement will be watched keenly in Africa and beyond and will set a precedent for generations to follow".

On his future political career, Nana Akufo-Addo, who contested the 2008 and 2012 elections as the flag bearer of the NPP, said he would take some time off the hurly burly of politics, get some rest, reflect and later announce his decision.

He paid glowing tribute to his lawyers, researchers, party executives and his wife and daughters for their support in various forms.

He called on Ghanaians to wish President Mahama well and thank the Almighty God for His mercies on Ghana, while still repeating the NPP petition slogan: "The battle continues to be that of the Lord's."

Source: Daily Graphic

Election Petition: Supreme Court affirms Mahama’s victory

Some predicted doom, bought tickets and flew out of the country, while many waited with bated breath to "feed" on whichever way the judgement would go.

But Ghana's democracy once again triumphed on the corridors of law.

In less than five minutes, the Supreme Court settled the eight-month long "pink sheets war" and affirmed President John Dramani Mahama as the validly elected President of the Republic of Ghana.

The legal war has officially ended because the contender for the presidency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has conceded defeat, congratulated President Mahama and decided not to challenge the court's decision.

The petitioners and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) faithful did not look happy but managed some smiles, shook hands with one another and patted their backs.

Ghana's national flag was distributed among members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) whose candidate for the December 2012 elections had been affirmed by the Supreme Court as the President of Ghana. They sang jubilant songs to praise God for the affirmation.

Lawyers for President Mahama, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the NDC, Mr Tony Lithur, Mr James Quashie-Idun and Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, respectively, expressed gratitude to the court, while lead counsel for the petitioners, in response to the court's decision, said, "As the court pleases."

The Returning Officer of the December 2012 presidential election, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, looked happy and received congratulatory messages and handshakes from some well-wishers. He had testified during the hearing of the petition and stood by his declaration of President Mahama as the winner.

Members of the NDC simultaneously brought out white handkerchiefs and waved them, amid smiles, immediately the nine justices had left the courtroom.

The Decision

In a 6-3 majority decision, the court dismissed the petitioners' legal contest for the highest office of the land and maintained President Mahama's presidency which had been under "legal fire" from December 9, 2012 till yesterday, August 29, 2013 when the dust settled.

Mr Justice William Anam Atuguba, Mrs Justice Sophia Adinyira, Mr Justice Jones Victor M. Dotse, Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Mr Justice N. S. Gbadegbe and Mrs Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo, in an "overall" decision, dismissed the petitioners' claim for the annulment of 3,931,339 votes due to electoral irregularities in the December 7 and 8, 2012 presidential election.

The dissenting justices, who held the view that there were issues to be settled with allegations of over-voting, absence of presiding officers' signature and voting without biometric verification, were Mr Justice Julius Ansah, Ms Justice Rose Constance Owusu and Mr Justice Anin Yeboah.

They were of the opinion that the votes affected by these allegations must be annulled and a re-run held.

Unanimous Decision

On the allegations of some pink sheets having duplicated serial numbers, duplicate polling station codes and voting taking place in 22 unknown locations, the court unanimously dismissed the claims.

"The Swap"

There was an interesting swap in the votes of the justices because Ms Justice Owusu had, on January 22, 2013, added her vote to five others to allow the NDC to join the petition as the third respondent, while Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie had joined two others to say 'no' to the NDC.

However, the two "legally swapped" places when Ms Justice Owusu upheld the claims of the petitioners, with Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie granted the prayer of the respondents.

Registrar to forward judgement to Electoral Commission

Regulation 71 of the Supreme Court Amendment Rules, 2012,  (CI 74) says: "The court shall, at the conclusion of the hearing of the petition, deliver its judgement and the registrar shall, within seven days of the delivery of the judgement, forward a copy of the judgement to the Electoral Commission.''

The EC is, therefore, expected to officially hold another press conference to announce the decision of the court and, accordingly, affirm its December 9, 2012 declaration of President Mahama as the winner of the presidential poll.

By Court

Mr Justice Atuguba read out the judgement as follows:

Mr Justice William Atuguba, President of nine-member panelMr Justice William Atuguba, President of nine-member panel"Upon a scrutiny of the petition, we found that the issues to be determined are as set out at page 125 of the counsel for the petitioners' written address.

"They are as follows: i) Over-voting, ii) Voting without biometric verification, iii) Absence of the signature of a presiding officer, iv) Duplicate serial numbers; that is, occurrence of the same serial numbers on pink sheets for two different polling stations, v) Duplicate polling station codes; that is, occurrence of different results/pink sheets for polling stations with the same polling station codes, and vi) Unknown polling stations; that is, results recorded for polling stations which are not part of the 26,002 polling stations provided by the second respondent for the election.

"We unanimously dismiss the claims relating to duplicate serial numbers, duplicate polling station codes and unknown polling stations.

Dismissal of Claim of Over-voting

"Atuguba, Adinyira, Baffoe-Bonnie, Gbadegbe and Akoto-Bamfo dismiss the claim of over-voting.

Dismissal of claims of absence of signatures

"Atuguba, Adinyira, Baffoe-Bonnie, Gbadegbe, Akoto-Bamfo dismiss the claims relating to absence of signature of presiding officer on the pink sheets.

Dismissal of claims of voting without biometric verification

"Atuguba, Adinyira, Dotse, Baffoe-Bonnie, Gbadegbe and Akoto-Bamfo dismiss the claim relating to voting without biometric verification.

The dissenting three

"Ansah, Owusu and Anin-Yeboah, JSC, grant all the three claims; that is, over-voting, absence of presiding officers' signature and voting without biometric verification, annul votes involved and order a re-run of the affected areas.

"Mr Justice Dotse upholds claims of over-voting and absence of signatures

"Dotse JSC granted the claim of over-voting but has provided a road map in his judgement as in the figures of votes to be ascertained and cancelled and a re-run of the areas affected.

"Dotse JSC upholds the claim relating to absence of presiding officers' signatures on the pink sheets, cancels the results concerned and orders a rerun of the areas affected.

"Baffoe-Bonnie JSC grants claims of voting without biometric verification, cancels the votes involved and orders a re-run of the areas affected.

Overall effect of the judgement

"In the circumstance, the overall effect is that the first respondent was validly elected and the petition is, therefore, dismissed.

"Our various judgements, for the sake of convenience, are handed over to the registrar of this court."

KPMG commended

The court highly commended the services of KPMG, the official referee appointed on May 9, 2013 to conduct an audit of the pink sheets. The audit firm submitted its report on June 24, 2013.

Lawyers for the parties in the petition were also commended by the court.

Short but long judgement

Many had expected the court to spend more than an hour in delivering its judgment but it decided to read out its consequential orders and rather directed the parties to get copies of the full judgement from the Supreme Court Registry.

As of press time, a certified true copy of the full judgement which is expected to be voluminous was not ready.

These are not light matters

It was a tense moment when the nine-member panel entered the packed courtroom. The court was unusually quiet, to the extent that only the sound of shuffled pieces of paper could be heard.

Mr Justice Atuguba set the ball rolling by apologising to the audience in the courtroom for the panel's seeming delay, adding, "These are not light matters."

The panel was expected to begin delivering its judgement by 10 a.m. but it entered the courtroom at 12:54 p.m. and began delivering its judgement at 1:05 p.m.

Waiting and Speculation

The nervous atmosphere that engulfed Ghana in 2008 and 2012 before the declaration of the winner of the presidential elections of those years was replicated at the Supreme Court from 10 a.m. to  12:54 p.m. when the nine-member panel entered the courtroom to deliver its judgement.

The mood in the courtroom was that of apprehension, as the litigants, their lawyers, the media and members of the public awaited the final decision on the pink sheet war.

Many had expected the court to start delivering its judgement by 10 a.m. (its usual time of sitting), but as of 12 noon there was no sign of the judges.

Speculation on what was happening among the justices was rife on social media through text messages and telephone calls.

Questions such as "what's is happening?" kept flowing from all angles.

To ease tension, the party functionaries of both sides went out of the courtroom either to grant interviews to journalists or have private chats.

Others remained glued to their seats in the courtroom.

Photo shoot moments

Journalists, on the other hand, took opportunity of the delay to take memorable photographs after eight long months of covering the proceedings.

Analysis of Petitioners' Case

The petitioners — Nana Akufo-Addo; his running mate, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, and NPP Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey — had indicated that using pink sheets from 10,119 polling stations, over-voting occurred at 1,722 polling stations, while the occurrence of voting without biometric verification occurred at 2,020 polling stations.

The irregularity of absence of presiding officers' signature occurred at 1,638 polling stations, while the use of duplicate serial numbers on pink sheets affected 8,987 polling stations.

They also alleged irregularities of voting taking place at 23 unknown locations, while some pink sheets had duplicated polling station codes.

According to the petitioners, when the results of those polling stations were annulled, President Mahama's votes would be reduced by 2,622,551, which would result in him securing 41.79 per cent of the new tally of valid votes.

They said Nana Akufo-Addo's votes would also be reduced by 1,233,186 but that would still see him securing 56.85 per cent of the new tally of valid votes, more than the needed 50 per cent plus one to be declared as winner of the Presidency.

The petitioners also showed in their addresses that all the four main irregularities on their own had a material impact on the results declared and that annulling the polling stations affected by any of the four irregularities would mean that the declared winner, Mr Mahama, did not secure the required over 50 per cent.

But President Mahama, the EC and the NDC refuted the allegations and prayed the court to dismiss the petition as not proven.

Powers of the Court

The Supreme Court delivered the judgement in line with the powers conferred on it under Article 64 (1, 2 and 3) of the 1992 Constitution and the Supreme Court Amendment Rules, 2012 (CI 74).

Source: Daily Graphic

Election Petition: MPs Pledge to abide by verdict

Members of Parliament have pledged to abide by the decision of the Supreme Court on the election petition.

They have also agreed to collaborate to address the numerous problems which confront the nation, now that the matter has been brought to closure.

In interviews with the Daily Graphic, MPs on the side of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) expressed their disappointment but said they had no choice but to respect the decision.

Members on the side of the Majority, however, were elated and said the ruling was in line with their long-held position that the President, Mr John Mahama, was duly elected and that the 2012 general election, although faced some challenges, was largely free, fair and transparent.

The member for Sekondi, Papa Owusu Ankomah (NPP), said he was looking forward to reading the judgement to ascertain why the judges ruled the way they did and how the decisions they arrived at would impact on future elections.

The fact that the decision of the court was not unanimous, in his opinion, was a pointer to the fact that the NPP's case was not frivolous or vexatious.

"I urge all our supporters to stand firm. The decision we took to go to court was in line with our party's philosophy. It was in line with our belief in the rule of law," he said.

The outcome of the petition, in his view, would strengthen the resolve of the NPP to be more vigilant in subsequent elections.

On relations between the two major parties in Parliament, Papa Owusu Ankomah said although the Minority refused to partake in the vetting of appointees of President Mahama, it had collaborated effectively with the Majority on all other issues and added that members on the side of the NPP would continue to co-operate with the NDC to confront the challenges facing the nation.

The member for Nhyiaeso, Dr Richard Anane (NPP), said with the ruling of the court, all Ghanaians, including members of the NPP, should consider the President, John Mahama, as having been duly elected and accord him all the respect he deserved.

He considered the verdict as "the divine will of the Lord" and urged all members of the NPP to respect the decision and "let Ghana live".

"As a party, we believe in the rule of law, that is why we resorted to the courts. We must all go by the decision of the courts. All members of the NPP must calm down," he said.

The Member for Ashaiman and Deputy Majority Leader (NDC), Mr Alfred Agbesi, described the decision of the court as welcome news "which we have all along expected".

"The country can now have peace. John Mahama can now have peace and run the nation.

For eight months now the country has been at a standstill as a result of this case. From now we are going to work," he said.

He advised NDC members to jubilate in moderation.

The member for Asawase and Majority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak (NDC), said all Ghanaians needed to be congratulated on not resorting to violence but using the most civilised means to resolve the electoral dispute.

Now, he said, the government could concentrate on solving the myriad of problems which confronted Ghanaians such as lack of potable water supply and power shortages.

He called for an end to the "winner-takes-all" politics being practised in the country, "so that all can participate".

He said MPs, when the House resumes sitting, needed to consider amendments to the 1992 Constitution to address the issue.

Alhaji Muntaka said the narrow election margins experienced in the last few years were perhaps a pointer to the fact that Ghanaians wanted a united government.

Source: Daily Graphic

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Ghana Supreme Court upholds John Dramani Mahama election win

Ghana's Supreme Court has upheld President John Dramani Mahama's election as president, rejecting challenges to the vote by the opposition NPP led by presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo, his running mate, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia and National Chairman of the party in question, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey. 


"The first respondent was validly elected and the suit is dismissed" Chairman of the panel of Judges Mr. William Atuguba announced by a unanimous decision.

The Judges arrived at final decision by going through the following six issues raised by the petitioners:

1. overvoting dismissed by a 5:4 majority decision
2. voting without biometric verification dismissed 6:3 majority decision
3. absence of signature dismissed 5:4 majority decision
4. duplicate pink sheets dismissed unanimously
5. Duplicate Polling Stations dismissed unanimously
6. Unknown polling stations dismissed unanimously

The December 7 and 8 2012 general elections were keenly contested by eight presidential candidates with John Dramani Mahama of the then incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) being the two lead runners.

The Electoral Commission (EC) on December 9, 2012 declared 10,995,262 valid votes were cast and gave the incumbent, President John Dramani Mahama a 50.70% victory with 5,574,761 votes whiles his main challenger Nana Akufo-Addo, his main challenger, received 5,248,898 votes, representing 47.79% and the rest of the votes shared among the six other candidates.

The petitioners sought from the Supreme Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction on  presidential election petitions in Ghana, to annul 4,381,145 votes from 11,138 polling stations (out of 26,002 polling stations nationwide). They claim those votes were affected by six main categories of constitutional and statutory violations, malpractices, omissions and irregularities in various combinations.

The court ruled on whether or not there were statutory violations, omissions, irregularities and malpractices in the conduct of the elections held on December 7 and 8, 2012 elections, and also whether or not the said reliefs (if any) affected the outcome of the results.

The Electoral Commission insisted that the vote was credible, despite technical difficulties with the biometric voter verification system.

International observers said the poll was largely free, fair and credible, and that the Electoral Commission had conducted its business in an open and transparent manner.

AEP

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Ghanaians asked to preserve peace

 

Alhaji Ahmed Nii Nortey, Public Relations Officer of the Office of the National Chief Imam, on Tuesday called on Ghanaians to preserve the country's peace towards national development.

"There is the need for us to unite, preserve and sustained the peace that Ghana is enjoying", he said.

Alhaji Nortey made the remarks when he represented Sheik Dr Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam, at a peace campaign at Mamobi in Accra.

The campaign which seeks to educate and sensitize the people on the need for peace after the Supreme Court verdict on the 2012 presidential election petition was organised by the Office of the National Chief Imam in collaboration with Star-Ghana, a multi-donor pooled funding group.

The crusade dubbed: 2012 Election Adjudication Intervention Let's Accept the Supreme Court Decision (Win or Lose) to Ensure National Cohesion, Peace and Stability", was attended by  Muslims and Christian groups, market women, opinion leaders and members of various political parties.

He appealed to Muslims, particularly the youth, to promote peace and respect other religions, and religious leaders to be peace ambassadors, to ensure national development.

Bishop Dr Theophilus T. Narh, founder and leader of Love of God Ministries, advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to commit crimes and violence.

Alhaji Simba, an Imam at Mamobi, said political tolerance was the only means by which Ghana could consolidate the gains of democracy.

Mr Ibrahim Syborg, a member of the New Patriotic Party, called on Ghanaians to be tolerant and promote peace and tranquility to attract investors into the country.

Mr Sidiq Suleiman, a member of the National Democratic Congress, said Ghanaians should consider the Supreme Court verdict as victory for the country's electoral system and democracy.

Hajia Barikisu Shardow, official at the Office of the National Chief Imam, appealed to women to advice their children against violence and supporters of political parties to remain calm after the announcement of the verdict

Source: GNA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verdict should deepen country’s democracy-NCCE

Mrs. Charlotte Osei, National Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), says the verdict of the Supreme Court on the election petition would deepen and set Ghana aside as a  beacon of democracy in Africa.

She said since the country had accepted the path of democracy and the rule of law every Ghanaian must support its tenets to ensure peace and harmony.

Mrs. Osei said this in a speech read for her during a stakeholders' meeting in Daboase on Wednesday, ahead of the Supreme Court ruling on August 29.

She expressed optimism that the Supreme Court verdict would ensure fairness to both parties and make the country more united and resolute than ever.

Mrs. Osei said since both petitioners and respondents had promised to accept the verdict in good faith, supporters of the two parties should also do same.

 Mr. John Nyonator, Wassa East District Director of the NCCE, appealed to supporters of the two parties to tolerate each other to maintain peace in the country.

Source: GNA

Protect peace in Northern Region - Nunoo Menshah

The National Security Advisor, Brigadier-General Nunoo Mensah, has called on the people of the Northern Region not to allow the forthcoming decision of the Supreme Court on the election petition to affect the prevailing peace in the area.

He said the region had witnessed enough political and ethnic-related violence and strife in the past, and it was important that the people buried their differences and worked together to protect the peace.

Gen. Mensah was speaking at a peace conference in Tamale organised by the Northern Ghana Aid (NORGAID), an NGO, and sponsored by STAR-Ghana, an amalgam of European donor organisations.

It aimed at sensitising residents of the Northern Region to accept the verdict of the election petition and was attended by regional commanders of the various security services, chiefs, representatives of political parties, youth groups and opinion leaders.

General Nunoo Mensah urged the participants not to allow petty divisions among them to blur their sense of love for one another as some of those divisions were only imaginary and did not really exist in society.

Using himself as an example, General Nunoo Mensah said "I started politics as a member of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and later stood for parliamentary elections on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).  Today, I stand before you as the National Security Advisor under the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)."

He, therefore, urged people in the region to bury whatever perceived differences they had and work together to ensure peace and development in the region as past conflicts in some parts of the north had brought setbacks in terms of development to vibrant and promising towns such as Yendi and Bawku .

The Executive Chairman of NORGAID, Mr Mustapha Sanah, said the country would be in a state of entropy, if citizens failed to obey decisions of independent state institutions such as the judiciary.

He, therefore, asked participants to take the pieces of advice of the various experts at the programme seriously and live by them.

Source: Daily Graphic

Uncertainty Fills the Air as Ghana’s Supreme Court Decides on Landmark Electoral Dispute Case

The 2012 general elections like all the preceding general elections in the 4th Republic was largely successful and relatively peaceful according to local and international observers.  The Head of the AU/ECOWAS electoral observers group General Olusegun Obasanjo said "this election is another block on the edifice of this country".
With eight (8) candidates on the ballot, unsurprisingly, the real contest was between John Mahama and Nana Akuffo-Addo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) respectively. The Electoral Commission (EC) on December 9, 2012 declared 10,995,262 valid votes were cast and gave the incumbent, President John Dramani Mahama a 50.70% victory with 5,574,761 votes whiles his main challenger Nana Akufo-Addo, received 5,248,898 votes, representing 47.79% and the rest of the votes shared among the six other candidates.  
On December 28, 2012, three persons from the opposition NPP, led by the presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo, his running mate, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia and National Chairman of the party in question, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey took their petition to the Supreme Court, seeking to annul 4,381,145 votes from 11,138 out of 26,002 polling stations across the country.
They claimed those votes were affected by six main categories of constitutional and statutory violations, malpractices, omissions and irregularities in various combinations. Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the president-elect and leader of the NDC, the NDC party, and the Electoral Commission were the respondents in the case.
Issues at stake:
  • Whether or not there were statutory violations, omissions, irregularities and malpractices in the conduct of the elections held on December 7 and 8, 2012 elections
  • Whether or not the said violations, omissions, irregularities and malpractices (if any) affected the outcome of the results
Ghana's Supreme Court therefore is expected to give a ruling on these 2 reliefs.
Along the line of  the 8 months of the court sitting, a suit filed at the court by the General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Mornah, seeking "a declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of articles 133, 157, 93(2) and 11 of the 1992 Constitution, Rule 71B and a part of Rule 69C (5) of the Supreme Court (Amendment) Rules, 2012 (CI 74) are unconstitutional and must be declared null and void and of no effect"  The Supreme Court ruled that its decision in respect of petitions filed to challenge the election of a President could be reviewed if any of the parties was dissatisfied.

The Verdict
Many Ghanaians were relieved when all the parties concluded their legal arguments over the election petition with the president of the panel announcing that they will give their judgment on Thursday 29 August. The final verdict would bring to a close the protracted legal battle over the December 2012 election that has lasted about eight months.

Lawyer Michael Afrifa of the Legal 2 Law Firm explained to the African Elections Project that the verdict could go the following ways:
  • Declare Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party winner of the elections on the grounds of the reliefs they sought in court.
  • Maintain the status quo by declaring incumbent President John Dramani Mahama as the  validly elected president.
  • Another expectation could be a directive for a re-run of the whole Presidential elections or order a rerun of the Presidential elections in selected polling stations.

Lawyer Afrifa is of the view that even though both the petitioners and respondents can seek review of the final verdict, "it will be a waste of time to contest a unanimous decision by the judges since the two additional judges who will join the panel during the review will not make that much impact with their votes."
He further raised a couple of constitutional matters in the instance of Nana Akufo-Addo being declared president, "will he serve the remaining time of this current administration  which will come to an end in January 6, 2016 together with the dissolution of the current parliament or will he start a new term as stated in Article 66 (1) of the Constitution that, "A person elected as President shall hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President."

Another dilemma he pointed out is that "in the event of President Mahama winning a rerun of the elections as directed by the court will he start a new term of presidency if he wins that particular election? What implications will all these scenarios have on the way Ghana runs its elections in future?"

Kwame Yeboah a political analyst however thinks whatever the outcome of this election petition, "the Supreme Court will direct for an overhaul of the country's electoral laws with massive reforms on the preparations towards elections, funding of elections and building the capacity of the management and staff of the electoral commission to conduct better elections in the future."

Security
The anxiety  in the country has reached a high level with many citizens fearing the worse to happen. The security apparatus has been beefed and police have asked the Public not to be intimidated by the presence of the Security Personnel on the streets and in their neighbourhoods  because they are not out to harass them, but rather protect lives and property. The police have also assured citizens that nothing untoward will happen and they should go about their normal duties.
Some principal roads in the capital have been shut down ahead of the verdict and many citizens, religious bodies and civil society organisations have appealed to the leadership of both the NDC and NPP and their supporters accept the verdict of the Court for the peace of the nation.
The police has also deployed personnel to flash points around the country and media houses to avert any untoward incidents after the pronouncement of the verdict by the supreme court

"We would ensure that personnel also control traffic and perform normal policing duties since some criminals might take advantage of the situation to commit crime or engage in other unlawful activities." The director of police public affairs, DSP Cephas Arthur in an interview with the African Elections Project.

The fate of Ghana's democracy seems to be in the hands of the Supreme Court who have the constitutional jurisdiction to discharge such a colossal task without fear or favor. We hope that they will be bold and be guided by the greater national goal to render a sound verdict which will entrench the current peace prevailing in the country.





Ghana will remain intact after ruling — NDC, NPP

The leaderships of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region have given a firm assurance that the peace of the region will remain intact after today's Supreme Court ruling on the presidential election petition.

They said not even an ant would be hurt because the followers of the political parties had come to accept the fact that the case was not a do or die affair.

According to them, they have taken education on peace down to the lowest points of the parties' structures and all are ready to accept the outcome of the petition whether it goes for them or not.

These came out at a meeting organised by the regional police command for the security agencies, political parties and senior media practitioners in the region in Kumasi last Monday.

Stating the position of his party, the NPP regional chairman, Mr F.F. Antoh, said the party would not want to do anything to disturb the peaceful path the nation had travelled since 1992.

"We believe in the democracy and the rule of law that is why we sent the case to court," he said.

Mr Antoh said if for nothing at all, the fact that one of the judges said during the hearing of the case that Ghana's electoral system would not be the same after the judgement was a victory for the NPP, whose members sent the case to court.

When he mounted the podium, the deputy regional chairman of the NDC, Mr Sawyer Ativor, said over the past few weeks the leadership of the party in the region and the constituencies had been telling the party supporters not to do anything to mar the peace the nation was enjoying.

"From all indications, the message has gone down well with the party supporters and they will not resort to any acts of disturbances after the judgement, " he said.

Mr Ativor stated that it was God who installs Kings and not human beings. "We know God would speak and nothing would happen at the end of the day."

Officials from the other political parties also spoke at the meeting with all stressing the need for peace.

In his remarks, the regional police commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Augustine Gyening, expressed satisfaction with the assurance given by the NPP and NDC leaderships.

He, however, advised them not to do anything to divert from the path of peace, which they had promised.

He indicated that the police would be fair to all as it worked to get things moving in the region after the judgement.

Present were other service commanders in the region.

Source: Daily Graphic

 

 

 

 

 

Election Petition: Supreme Court delivers judgement today

There are striking similarities and differences between the two personalities at the centre of the "pink sheet war".

One was sworn-in as President five months before the general election, while the other had to suspend his campaign and mourn with the newly sworn-in President and Ghanaians following the untimely demise of then President John Evans Atta Mills.

They are both Ghanaians, former parliamentarians, leaders of the two main political parties in Ghana, have committed to peace and declared their preparedness to accept the decision of the Supreme Court in their fight over the highest office of the land – the Presidency.

In a typical musical chairs scenario, one was lucky to have sat on the chair when the music stopped playing on December 9, 2012.

However, will the one on the chair be disqualified or allowed to continue sitting on it? Will the other be allowed to sit on it or will the music be played again to find out who finally has the last laugh?

Ghanaians will today get the answers to these questions when the Supreme Court, blessed with powers under Article 64 (1, 2 and 3) of the 1992 Constitution and the Supreme Court Amendment Rules, 2012, (CI 74), puts to rest the pink sheets legal battle which has been fought for the past eight months.

Article 64(1) of the 1992 Constitution provides: "The validity of the election of the President may be challenged only by a citizen of Ghana, who may present a petition for the purpose to the Supreme Court within twenty-one days after the declaration of the results of the election in respect of which the petition is presented."

Article 64(2) says: "A declaration by the Supreme Court that the election of the President is not valid shall be without prejudice to anything done by the President before the declaration", while 64 (3) states that "the rules of the Court Committee shall, by Constitutional Instrument, make rules of court for the practice and procedure for petitions to the Supreme Court challenging the election of a president".

Thus the Supreme Court Amendment Rules, 2012 (CI 74) were promulgated in 2012 to set out modalities to be adhered to in the event a petition is filed to challenge a President's legitimacy.

Who is Who?

The personalities in the middle of the "pink sheet war", President John Dramani Mahama and the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December 2012 presidential election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, both campaigned vigorously for the presidency.

With powers conferred on him under Article 63 (9) of the 1992 Constitution, the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, declared President Mahama the winner of the December 7 and 8, 2012 presidential election.

The battle shifted from the campaign grounds to the Supreme Court on December 28, 2012 when Nana Akufo-Addo; his running mate, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, and the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, filed a petition under Article 64 of the 1992 Constitution; Section 5 of the Presidential Election Act, 1992 (PNDCL 285) and Rule 68 and 68 A of the Supreme Court (Amendment) Rules 2012, CI 74.

The Challenge

Nana Akufo-Addo wants to be declared President on the grounds that there were gross and widespread irregularities at 10,119 polling stations and for that reason the annulment of 3,931,339 invalid votes at those polling stations would reduce President Mahama's votes and guarantee his (Nana Akufo-Addo's) seat at the Presidency.

President Mahama has fought back with the argument that he won the elections freely and transparently in the full glare of Ghanaians, the media, local and foreign observers.

Issues for Determination

The court will determine whether or not there were statutory violations, irregularities, commissions and malpractices in the December 7 and 8, 2012 presidential poll.

It will also determine whether or not those statutory violations, irregularities, omissions and malpractices (if any) affected the outcome of the presidential poll.

Possible Outcome

Justices William Atuguba, Julius Ansah, Sophia Adinyira, Rose Constance Owusu, Jones Victor Dotse, Anin Yeboah, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, N. S. Gbadegbe and Vida Akoto-Bamfo will take into consideration the evidence adduced, the laws of the land, both local and international authorities, the rules of court and other statutes before pronouncing the verdict, which has left many Ghanaians entertaining the fear of a possible escalation of violence after the judgement.

After considering the evidence adduced to prove allegations of over-voting, some persons voting without undergoing biometric verification, some presiding officers not signing pink sheets and some pink sheets having duplicate serial numbers, the court will determine whether or not to annul some or 3,931,339 million votes.

In the event of an annulment, the court will then decide whether or not the votes annulled are enough to affect the outcome of the poll.

Should the court hold that the votes to be annulled (if any) are not enough to affect the outcome of the presidential poll, it will affirm the EC's declaration of President Mahama as the winner of the polls.

On the contrary, the court could either declare Nana Akufo-Addo the winner of the polls or order for a re-run of the election at affected polling stations.

Obviously, the stakes are high and, for that reason, Mr Philip Addison, Mr Tony Lithur, Mr James Quashie-Idun and Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, lawyers for the petitioners, President Mahama, the EC and the NDC, respectively, left no stone unturned in fighting to change or maintain the status quo of the presidency.

Declare Nana Akufo-Addo President

The petitioners indicate that using pink sheets from 10,119 polling stations, over-voting occurred at 1,722 polling stations, while voting without biometric verification occurred at 2,020 polling stations.

The irregularity of absence of presiding officers' signature occurred at 1,638 polling stations, while the use of duplicate serial numbers on pink sheets affected 8,987 polling stations.

In all, 3,931,339 votes were affected by the various irregularities at the 10,119 polling stations being challenged by the petitioners.

According to the petitioners, when the results of those polling stations were annulled, President Mahama's votes would be reduced by 2,622,551, which would result in him securing 41.79 per cent of the new tally of valid votes.

They said Nana Akufo–Addo's votes would also be reduced by 1,233,186 but that would still see him securing 56.85 per cent of the new tally of valid votes, much more than the needed 50 per cent + 1 to be declared as winner of the election.

The petitioners also showed in their addresses that each of the four main irregularities on its own had a material impact on the results declared and that annulling the votes at the polling stations affected by any of the four irregularities would mean that the declared winner, Mr Mahama, did not secure the required over 50 per cent.

President Mahama beat Nana Akufo-Addo by 325,863 votes.

Maintain President Mahama

However, President Mahama, the EC and the NDC had all argued that the petitioners had failed to prove their case to warrant the annulment of votes and the subsequent declaration of Nana Akufo-Addo as the winner of the presidential poll.

According to the respondents there was no legal, logical or arithmetical basis for the call for the annulment of votes.

Betting on social media

Prejudicial and contemptuous remarks in the media were so serious during the hearing that the Supreme Court had to stamp its authority by "legally cleansing and sealing the mouths" of a few "wayward" social commentators and party bigwigs to avoid the country being turned into a state of anarchy.

Although the highest court of the land, by the powers conferred on it by the 1992 Constitution, has succeeded in restoring some amount of sanity into the body politic, party faithful and fanatics have moved their prejudicial comments to social media.

Some have even gone to the extent of betting and challenging one another over the outcome of the judgement.

The Police Administration has moved in to hunt rumourmongers on social media in its bid to sustain the country's peace.

Measures to maintain sanity

As part of measures to sustain the country's fledgling democracy, the Supreme Court, on countless occasions during the hearing, promised that the Judiciary would uphold and sustain the interest of Ghanaians against reckless politicians who did not have the interest of the state at heart.

The Police Administration has deployed more than 30,000 personnel across the country to maintain law and order.

The roads leading to the Supreme Court have been blocked to non-accredited persons, while only accredited persons will be allowed entry into the Supreme Court.

There are reports of panic buying for storage across the country, premised on the fear that violence may escalate after the delivery of the judgement.

Other reports also indicate that people are flying out of the country with their families to avoid being caught up in any possible turmoil after the declaration.

Non-governmental organisations and other bodies have rolled out peace messages on all platforms to sustain the country's position as the Gateway to Africa.

Daily Graphic

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Election Petiton: Gender-based groups call for peace

Anne  Firth Murray, the founding president of Global Fund for Women, recounts on her blog, the agony of a widow in Rwanda after being impregnated by a rapist: "The child was born, but most of the time I am not happy with him, especially because he reminds me of the bad images of the people who raped me.

"I lost seven children in the war and I am now bringing up a child of bad luck….It is very hard for me….The pain never goes away….I cannot love this child….It's hell on earth and the genocide continues to live with me," She quotes the widow as having said.

The impact of war on children is also profound. In the last two decades, over two million children are said to have been killed in wars and conflicts, 4.5 million children disabled and another 12 million left homeless. Today, there are 300,000 child soldiers, including many girls who are forced to 'service' the troops.

According to a report by a United Nations military adviser, Major General Patrick Cammaert, in 2008, "It is now more dangerous to be a woman than to be a soldier in modern conflict."

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Resolution 1325) adopted in October 2000, advocates an increased participation by women in peace-keeping activities. It also recognises the special vulnerability of women in times of conflict and the first-ever UN study on the impact of violent conflict on women and girls was issued in 2002.

Again in 2002, then Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan issued a report to the Security Council in which he acknowledged that "Women and children are disproportionately targeted in contemporary armed conflict and constitute the majority of all victims," and that during conflict, women and girls were vulnerable to all forms of violence, in particular sexual violence and exploitation, including torture, rape, mass rape, forced pregnancy, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, and trafficking.

As Ghanaians await the Supreme Court verdict on the 2012 election petition, gender-based groups have added their voices to the calls for peace being made across the country.

Young Women For Peace

In a call for peace before and after the Supreme Court verdict on Thursday, August 29, 2013, the Young Women for Peace project under the Ark Foundation observed that Ghana has managed to enjoy peace during the tenure of four different leaders, which it said was a tremendous feat in an era of the political instability that has existed and continues to exist in our world.

"Judged the most peaceful African country, along with Malawi and Botswana by the Global Peace Initiative in 2011, Ghana is an example to the world and must continue to do so even after the court's decision for continuous development".

In a statement signed by Ms Akosua Ampofo of the Ark Foundation, The Young Women for Peace called on Ghanaians to learn to trust both the security agencies and the judiciary, saying that mistrust and suspicion quickly breed an atmosphere of conflict; and where conflict exists, women and children suffer the most".

The Pamela Bridgewater Project

The Director of the Pamela Bridgewater Project, Mr Yahaya Alhassan, has called on Ghanaians to remember the Kayayei Peace Jersey as the country awaits the Supreme Court verdict.

The jersey is an iconic symbol of peace initiated on behalf of female porters (Kayayei) during the 2012 election.

The project is therefore appealing to political parties to honour their peace promise on the jersey by re-establishing Ghana as an oasis of peace and stability to bring the benefit to women and children he said.

The jersey has the endorsement of former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John A. Kufuor;  Speaker of Parliament, Mr Doe Adjaho; the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Alhaji Mohammed  Alhassan Ahmed; Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari Djan; Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Sharon Barli and UEFA President, Michel Platini.

Others who signed on the jersey were, the presidential candidates of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr Abu Sakara Foster; NPP's Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; PNC's Hassan Ayariga in the 2012 elections; the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey; General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Asiedu Nketia; Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Alex Segbefia; and the late Mr David Lamptey, among others, who all pledged and called for peace during the 2012 election.

Three gender-based coalitions

The Coalition On Domestic Violence Legislation In Ghana (DV Coalition), Women's Manifesto Coalition, and the Network of Women's Right In Ghana (NETRIGHT) say as Ghanaians look to Thursday, August 29, 2013 for the Supreme Court's verdict on the election petition, "we would humbly urge all protagonists to take note of the fact that there is only one supreme interest: Mother Ghana".

The coalitions said given the negative effects of conflicts on women, "we strongly urge all sides in this litigation to commit to preserving the peace of Ghana"

A statement signed by the Convenor of the three coalitions, Mr Adolf Awuku Bekoe, said the stability, sanctity and supremacy of Ghana must not be subordinated to any inordinate, selfish and partisan interest. "Our expectation is that any post-August 29, 2013 government of Ghana should prioritise national integration and inclusive citizenship.

In this regard, the coalitions suggest in addition to the many envisaged electoral reforms consequential to the election petition, that the government should organise a national dialogue to discuss and agree on measures to promote national integration.

Source: Daily Graphic

Final declaration day - "At long last the Battle of the Pink Sheets is over."

Before the clock strikes noon tomorrow, Atuguba JSC will lead out a eight ennobled Justices of Ghana's Supreme Court to make a pronouncement that will rank as only second to that made at the Polo Grounds in Accra on March 6, 1957.This will be the real and proper manifestation of President Atuguba's astute and historically pregnant declaration that "At long last the Battle of the Pink Sheets is over."

 

Tomorrow is the day when we the people of Ghana will finally be told of the outcome of the votes we cast on December 7 and 8, 2012 to elect a new President of Ghana. That John Dramani Mahama was sworn in by Justice's Atuguba's boss on January 7, 2013 and has been enjoying the full and awesome powers of the "Executive Powers of Ghana" is alas, only a little awkward but factually unavoidable aberration.

 

Tomorrow is "fiili fiili" day. The nine noble Lords (pardon my gender insensitivity) will unlock the padlocks to expose the law that has been clasped to their collective bosoms from April 16, 2013, when the proceedings of the petition started. As someone said about statistics," although what they reveal byway of the actual judgment will be interesting and significant, the underlying reasoning behind their actual decision and their implications for our collective future will turn out to be more significant.

 

From where I have sat and observed, and occasionally put in my "pink sheet" GH₵1.00 bit, albeit at the risk of being pushed over the edge of cliff where I am perilously perched, the actual pronouncement of the verdict, as important to the protagonists as it should be, will be more about what has happened in our country since the petitioners decided to contest the result declared by Dr Afari-Gyan on December 9, 2012. At the risk of being slapped for contempt as Atuguba JSC's panel final "nail in the coffin" act, the nearly nine months of who won exposition may come down ultimately to their Lordships' interpretation as to whether biometric voting is a process or a single specific act.

 

Enough speculation has gone into what the outcome will be. A lot more energy has been dispensed on "Wishing a particular outcome". The Ultimate Boss of our being on this planet, whether in the guise of God, Allah, Buddah or even my ancestor, Okomfo Anokye, has been pestered and hammered with non-stop intercessory pleadings.

 

If you thought our ennobled Lordships have been facing a tough time, take a pause from the main prayer and do a little aside for the wahala we are all bringing onto our Maker; who we are asking/nay demanding to choose from among His children, by "intercepting and diverting" the outcome emanating from the wisdom granted to those He/she has created in His own image, namely, Atuguba JSC and his eight brothers and sisters. Pardon my Christian bias; blame it on the missionaries. Maybe when I have done "Mr Documents" transition to another faith, I may be able to illustrate my point from grounds of faith.

 

Should the verdict come down in the petitioner's favour, meaning any decision that truncates or halts JDM's current tenure as President, it will be the first and so far judicially adjudicated version of three editions in "The Stolen verdict" that have been authored by the political party of the petitioners in the 21 years of being of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. On the other hand, if our Lordships share the respondent's assertion that the result pronounced and gazetted by Dr Afari¬Gyan on December 9, 2012, is indeed the certified true copy of the "will of the people", then John Mahama can breathe a big "phew" and carry on taking all, at least for now.

 

"Y3n ara y3n asase ni" is not the copyright of any political party in Ghana, nor does it lie in the bossom of political ambitions of any Ghanaian living anywhere. It is a domesticated expression of our commitment and determination to live as one people and one nation with a common destiny.

 

"Hail to thy name, 0 Ghana; To thee we make our solemn vow: Steadfast to build together; A nation strong in Unity; With our gifts of mind and strength of arm, Whether night or day, in the midst of storm; In every need, whate'er the call may be, To serve thee, Ghana, now and evermore'.

 

As we await tomorrow's historic. verdict, let us all "chew baba" the words of the second stanza of our national anthem so we may all sing it in unison and accept that this judgment day will not be the start of the "fire and brimstone" kind that portends the "End of Oman Ghana". Whether stolen or the certified true copy, the judgement tomorrow will be our Maker's answer to our prayers; no matter the wish we took to him. "Asommdwei, nhyira ne aseda y3 awurade dea"

 

To our Lordships Justice William Atuguba (presiding), Mr Justice Julius Ansah, Mrs Justice Sophia Adinyira, Ms Justice Rose Owusu, Mr Justice Jones. Dotse, Mr Justice Annin Yeboah, Mr Justice P. Baffoe-Bonnie, Mr Justice N.S. Gbadegbe and Mrs Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo, Ghana says a big, big thank you for your extraoridnary and selfless service to your nation on this landmark point in Oman Ghana's existence.

 

May "onyankopon" in His various manifestations of faith, richly bless you all "in our name and on our behalf."

I, Rev. Dr Pastor Tarzan, acting in Jesus' name and on His behalf, fortified by the "Boodua" of my ancestor Okomfo Anokye, and accepting the inherent "Justice for all their children" philosophy of "Insha Allah", do commend the people of Ghana for committing themselves to peace until the actual final judgment day comes (as prescribed by everyone of us' own personal Maker)

 

Tarzan's take on verdict: 9-0 to the successful side; the acceptable face of "winner takes all."

— The writer Is Chief Policy Analyst, Ghana Institute for Public Policy Options(GIPPO)

Email: tarzan@eyetarzan.org

Be professional to avoid contempt — Journalists urged

Panellists at a roundtable in Accra yesterday appealed to journalists to carry out their reportage on the judgement of the Supreme Court on the election petition in a professional  manner to avoid committing contempt.

They asked journalists to be guided by the code of ethics of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in the exercise of their duties.

The discussion, which was organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Editors Forum, Ghana, in collaboration with the Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Accra, drew the discussants from civil society and the media.

Speaking on the topic, "Press freedom versus Professional responsibility: Avoiding the traps of contempt in court reporting", the Director in charge of Newspapers of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, said the GJA code of ethics should serve as a guide for all professional journalists in the discharge of their duties.

He said journalists could fall foul of the law of contempt in varied ways, but the most notable was the publication of material likely to prejudice fair trial, with the tendency to sway the verdict of a juror, publications that could interfere or undermine the cause and course of justice.

He said journalists could also fall foul of the law of contempt by intimidating a witness, reporting trials in-camera, publishing the photograph of a suspect around the period that an identification parade was to be organised or exposing the past misdeeds of a suspect before his guilt in a new case could be established.

Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh, therefore, enjoined journalists to be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and analysing or interpreting information by always seeking the truth.

The Executive Director of the MFWA, Prof. Kwame Karikari, described the law of contempt as a self-serving law that gave judges arbitrary powers.

He, therefore, called for the law to be properly codified in the statute books, with the accompanying punishments spelt out clearly .

Prof Karikari noted that the press history of the country had been partisan and advised journalists to be guided by the GJA code of ethics in order not to fall into the traps of the law of contempt.

He said the creeping in of political stance in the media landscape had made it difficult for some journalists to be objective and advised journalists not to allow that to affect their reportage.

Prof Karikari stressed the need for the media, as an agency for enlightenment, to be circumspect and professional in their work.

He said press freedom also required a robust media and that the courts could not insulate themselves from genuine criticism of the media.

The moderator of the discussions, Mr Kwesi Gyan-Apenteng, appealed to journalists and media practitioners to exercise their press freedom responsibly to maintain and  protect the peace of the country.

He said the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA) were working together to ensure that the media adhered to professionalism.

The News Editor of CNN International, Mr David Gurien, said the media had a greater responsibility of operating within the confines of the law.

"With great power comes greater responsibility," he said, and stated that it was incumbent on journalists to be professional in their reportage.

Source: Daily Graphic

Envoy affirms Ghana’s democratic credentials

The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Omar Selim, has expressed confidence in Ghana's ability to come out of the Supreme Court judgement unscathed, and re-echo its credentials as the most peaceful and democratic country in a troubled region.

That situation, Mr Selim noted, would also put another feather in the cap of the country that had proved that it loved peace and harmony.

In an interaction with the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh in Accra, the ambassador noted, "Ghanaians are very peaceful and I believe they will go through this peacefully".

Mr Selim called on Mr Tetteh to discuss issues of mutual interest, including the recent developments in Egypt, and he indicated that the country would go to polls in May, next year.

Many Ghanaians are eagerly awaiting  the verdict from the nine-member panel which heard the landmark case on the country's election petition, to be delivered tomorrow.

While some think the nation's peace will not be breached after the verdict, there are those who have expressed some fear that the verdict could spark violence.

Mr Selim, who described Ghana as his second home, however, said the country stood to benefit a lot if it was able to come out of the situation successfully, adding that it would, for instance, attract more investors and foster economic growth.

"I have faith in Ghanaians scaling this wall once again and proving to the whole world that the people believe in the rule of law, and thus attract more investor confidence in the economy," he added.

He, however, appealed to all Ghanaians to accept the verdict and give peace a chance in their daily endeavours.

Mr Tetteh said the Daily Graphic was also playing its role to ensure that people understood the processes so they did not take the law into their hands.

Source: Daily Graphic

Mixed feelings herald Supreme Court ruling

A section of Ghanaians have expressed mixed feelings about the outcome of the 2012 presidential election petition, with just a day to the declaration of the verdict by the Supreme Court.

While some fear that there will be chaos, others manifest faith in God, as well as the court system to deliver its mandate to ensure that peace and justice prevail.

Yet others have declared their confidence in the government and other stakeholders to accept the final verdict, since Ghana is all that Ghanaians have and cherish.

However, players in the business sector, particularly market women and traders, have complained bitterly about the patronage of goods and services.

The Market

When the Daily Graphic visited the Makola Market in Accra yesterday, traders were busily wooing potential customers to purchase their wares.

Some shops were fully packed with customers who were patronising goods ranging from clothing, hair products, bags, shoes to second-hand clothing, among others.

The scene at the 31st December Market was not different. Customers were buying food items such as tomatoes, fish, pepper, vegetables, among others, in large quantities.

However, yam sellers at the Kokomba Market could not boast such patronage and they complained about low sales.

They explained that yam farmers had refused to supply them with the staple until after the Supreme Court verdict because of the fear that they might not get their money should anything happen after the verdict.

Traders' remarks

Hajia Ayishetu Salifu, a mattress retailer, told the Daily Graphic that the election petition had brought down sales at the market.

"People stopped buying items at the market when the petition started in the courts. They only come to ask of prices and they leave," she added.

Furthermore, she said, the last days of the petition had brought challenges, adding that business had become slower, even though more people were found at the market centres.

A shop assistant at a mobile phone shop, Millicent Armah, said patronage of the phones had gone down.

"Customers used to buy about 30 phones a day but now that has reduced to 20 and even less," she said.

Transport Services

At the Accra-Aflao Station at Tudu, drivers told the Daily Graphic that the patronage of transport services had declined for the past one week.

Mr Emmanuel Letsa, a worker at the station, said some vehicles had not moved from the station for the past three days because of the lack of passengers.

The secretary of the Accra-Lagos-Ibadan-Cotonou Station at Tudu did not mince words when he told the Daily Graphic that transport patronage had gone down these days.

From Kumasi George Ernest Asare reports that a section of the business community in Kumasi has debunked speculations that residents of the Kumasi metropolis have resorted to panic buying of foodstuffs and other valuables in anticipation of violence after the Supreme Court ruling tomorrow.

A number of traders who spoke to the Daily Graphic during a visit to their shops yesterday rather complained that business transactions had slackened since the beginning of the month.

From the main Asafo Market through to the Central Market to the central business district of Adum where the Daily Graphic interacted with a number of traders, they dismissed  public speculations that there had been panic buying.

They also said they would open their shops on Thursday for normal business, explaining that there was nothing to fear to warrant closure of their shops.

At the Asafo Market, traders who deal in vegetables and rice told the Daily Graphic that business had been normal.

"We would be very happy if there was panic buying in Kumasi. This is because business would have been very brisk and we would have sold all our products to maximise our profit margins," a 45-year-old rice dealer who identified herself as Maame Konto said.

Central Market

At the Kumasi Central Market, a 50-year-old woman, Auntie Comfort, also dismissed the panic buying assertion, explaining that business had been normal just like any other day.

"My customers have not been regular of late and I attribute that to the fact that many of them are rather keeping their money and may troop in after the Supreme Court verdict," she explained.

Source: Daily Graphic

Election Petition: All set for judgement

Courts within the Supreme Court building and the Fast Track High Court area will not sit tomorrow, August 29, 2013, the day set aside for the delivery of judgement in the presidential election petition.

According to the management of the Judicial Service, the decision formed part of security measures instituted to ensure that security on the court premises and inside the courtroom was not compromised in any way.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Judicial Secretary, Mr Justice Alex Poku-Acheampong, said the Judicial Service was poised to ensure that it conducted its national assignment effectively.

The affected courts include the Civil and Criminal Divisions of the Court of Appeal, some high courts, offices of judicial staff, Fast Track High Court One to Six and the Commercial Court.

Other affected courts are the Financial, Labour and Human Rights courts, their various registries, as well as offices.

In effect, non-accredited staff of the Judicial Service and members of the public would not be allowed within the inner and outer perimeters of the Supreme Court.

A statement signed by Mr Justice Poku-Acheampong and issued on August 22, 2013, urged non-accredited members of the public to monitor the judgement from their radio and television sets.

Accredited persons

Per the statement, only four groups of persons had been accredited to enter the court premises on judgement day — the parties in the case, lawyers, journalists and representatives of the security agencies.

The Judicial Service also implored party functionaries, former and current ministers of state, former and current parliamentarians who wished to witness the delivery of the judgement to contact the headquarters of their various parties for accreditation.

Meanwhile, the Police Administration has warned the public to stay a 100-metre radius away from the court premises.

Security will also be beefed up on the court premises on that day.

Source: Daily Graphic