Election 2020
Details: The 7 Times Tsikata’s Motions And Applications Were Dismissed By The Supreme Court
The seven justices (and sometimes nine judges) hearing the 2020 Election Petition have been called upon on 10 occasions to rule on various issues.
These are matters that have seen lawyers representing the respondents (EC and President Akufo-Addo) take positions contrary to that of the petitioner, John Mahama.
The seven judges hearing the case are Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, Justices Yaw Appau, Marful Sau, Nene Amegatcher, Prof. Kotey, Mariama Owusu, and Gertrude Torkonoo .
They have on two occasions been joined by Justices Amadu Tanko (both occasions) and Prof Henrietta Mensa Bonsu (once) and Lovelace Johnson (once).
The rulings so far;
All the court’s decisions in the last few weeks have been unanimous 7-0 and 9-0 on three occasions.
- First, it unanimously granted the petitioner’s request to amend the initial petition i.e correct minor mistakes that did not affect the substance of the petition.
- It unanimously dismissed a request for interrogatories to be served. These were 12 questions they wanted the EC Chairperson to answer
- Constituted as a 9 member panel, it unanimously dismissed a request to substitute a paragraph and add additional ground in a push by the petitioner to have the interrogatories ruling reviewed.
- This 9 member panel also unanimously dismissed the review of interrogatories ruling itself.
- The original 7 member panel by a unanimous decision struck out portions of the petitioner’s witness (Asiedu Nketia) statement (7 paragraphs) while maintaining 3 parts following a request by the Respondents.
- This panel also unanimously dismissed a request by the petitioner for documents to be inspected.
- The panel unanimously struck out 5 parts of 32 paragraphs of the petitioner’s witness statement (Mettle-Nunoo)
- The panel unanimously rejected the petitioner’s request to compel the EC to call Jean Mensa to testify
- The panel unanimously dismissed the petitioner’s request to reopen his case
- The enhanced 9 member panel dismissed the petitioner’s request that it reviews its decision not to compel Jean Mensa to testify.
From the above, it is only on one occasion that a request by the petitioner has been wholly granted.
This was the request to correct mistakes.
The petitioner’s viewpoint has been partly upheld on two occasions when it came to striking out portions of witness statements.
The legal arguments of the respondents have however swayed the judges 7 times.
Two judges are expected to join the 7 to hear another review motion seeking to set aside the court’s unanimous decision that did not allow the petitioner to reopen his case.
Source: MyJoyOnline
Election 2020
Mahama Was Asking The Supreme Court To Ignore The People’s Will Because Of An Error By The EC – Gabby Otchere Darko
Senior Member of the governing New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, says former President John Dramani Mahama’s election petition goes against the essence of petitions.
According to Mr Otchere-Datko, who is a cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the National Democratic Congress’ flagbearer is asking the Supreme Court to set aside the will of Ghanaians, which is not what petitions are meant for.
In a Twitter post, he said Mr Mahama is calling on the court to declare a verdict in his favour based on an error by the Electoral Commission which has been corrected since.
Source: AdomOnline
Election 2020
I Was The Best Man At Dr. Ayine’s Wedding – EC Lawyer, Amenuvor Shows Support At Contempt Trial
Lead Counsel for the 1st Respondent in the Election Petition hearing, Justin Amenuvor, has shown solidarity to colleague Lawyer Dominic Ayine who was cited for Contempt by the Supreme Court.
According to Justin Amenuvor, he has been friends with the spokesperson for the Petitioner for as long as possible and was even the best man at his wedding thus he was only there to show support.
His statement comes after a judge asked whether he [Amenuvor] came to support his roommate adding that his name was not part of the Lawyers involved in the case.
“Yes my Lord, I came to support my roommate, best man and my best friend. I am not appearing as Counsel but as a friend of Dominic Ayine and a best man at his wedding. He was Commonwealth Hall Secretary in our year, he’s a very good friend of mine. We go way back.”
Dr Ayine was found guilty for some comments he made while addressing the media on February 16, 2021. According to him, the apex court had a “pre-determined agenda” to rule against the Petitioner and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama.
Following the hearing on February 21, Dr Dominic Ayine was called to mount the witness box to explain the reason for his utterances. According to him, it wasn’t his intention to mar the reputation of the Supreme Court and quickly apologized to the Justices on the bench.
The Chief Justice, Kwesi Anin-Yeboah, conditioned that he would only be forgiven if he [Ayine] rendered an unqualified apology and retracts the ‘scandalous statement’ through the medium he defamed the apex court of Ghana on.
Following the retraction and apology, the Supreme Court discharged the case while advising the former Attorney General to be cautious with his utterances and not cause further him to his profession and the Supreme Court.
“We want to struck out having apologized and purge yourself from contempt”. The Chief Justice noted.
Meanwhile, the Election Petition hearing will continue on March 4 for judgement.
Source: GhanaWeb
Election 2020
Election Petition Final Address: EC Admits It Made Errors In Final Declaration
The lawyers of the Electoral Commission (EC), first respondent in the ongoing petition hearing say it is unfortunate that they were dragged to court by the NDC’s 2020 Presidential Candidate, John Mahama.
According to them, the harmless mistake made by EC boss, Jean Mensah while declaring the election results on December 9 had no bearing on the outcome of the election which has triggered the petition.
They further stated that the former President has failed to provide any evidence whatsoever to challenge the election results and for that matter, the declaration of the result and hence, they are calling on the court to dismiss the petitioner’s case.
The submission is contained in the written closing address filed by the lawyers in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders.
Source: MyJoyOnline
-
News9 months ago
I’m Only Resting At the Hospital– Ghana’s Health Minister Denies Having Contracted COVID-19
-
Breaking News9 months ago
Breaking News: Npp Parliamentary Aspirant For Effiduase Asokore Brutally Beaten By Soldiers
-
News9 months ago
Transfer Health Minister to Dormaa Hospital For Him to Enjoy Ghana’s Real Healthcare System–A Plus
-
News9 months ago
Ghana’s Health Minister Tests Positive For Coronavirus
-
News9 months ago
REPORT: Mayor for Sekondi-Takoradi-Kobina Sam Dies of Coronavirus
-
Politics9 months ago
NPP Primaries: Delegates Refuse Bribe After Being Asked To Swear By ‘Antoa’ Deity
-
News9 months ago
COVID-19: New E.I Sets 10-Year Jail Term For People Who Fail To Wear Face Masks
-
News9 months ago
See How Kanazoe Road Has Badly Deteriorated Just 4 Years After the Mahama-Ford Scandal