Back-to-Back Dismissals and Unique Wigs
Happenings in the Election Petition
Dear readers, I must admit I haven’t picked up my pen in a while. The pressures of the world prevented me from doing so and hence, I must apologise. Anyways, straight to business! — there is so much going on, isn’t there? An Election Petition which has held the attention of many over the last few weeks is going on while the vetting of the President’s nominees for the ministries is revving up. Many political junkies have had to forgo one event for the other — an opportunity cost that is borne with a lot of regret.
Anyways, in the Supreme Court of Ghana, the Election Petition rages on. The Petitioner represented by Tsatsu Tsikata, the boy wonder who got into Mfantsipim at 9 — the man called “The Law” by NDC sympathizers (One does wonder why …..) filed a motion to reopen his case in a bid to cross examine the Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa. The application was dismissed unanimously with the Chief Justice emphasizing that the petitioner’s case was to be won based on his evidence not on the evidence given by other parties. “The Law” filed for a review of the Court’s decision and once again, the application was dismissed again with the Court “stating, basically, that nothing new was established that necessitated the Court to reconsider its decision.”. Consequently, another application for the review of the Court’s decision (I know right) was filed by the petitioner and once again the application was dismissed, with the Chief Justice stating that “this is a court of law and not a forum for suppositions”
This adds up to a whole string of losses on the side of the Petitioner. It appears that the great oratory of Tsikata was unable to supersede the arguments grounded in law put forward by Amenuvor and Ampaw. Some have asserted that the Petitioners are on a wild goose chase of sorts, trying to delay the inevitable result of a case that doesn’t quite seem to add up. Others have postulated that the Electoral Commissioner needs to get into the box to explain the confusion surrounding the declaration of results. It is imperative however to remember that this is a petition asking for a specific set of reliefs, not an avenue for accountability.
Thankfully however, the general consensus is that the Supreme Court is executing its duties excellently. Hence, there is the expectation that they will come to a decision that is based solely on the evidence and law before them. Therefore, as we slowly come to the close of a period which was filled with the images of beautifully garbed lawyers striding into the courts, the oratory of Tsikata and the arguments littered with law of Amenuvor and Ampaw (with his unique wig) and see them retreat into their chambers to draw up their closing arguments , we can have faith that the Supreme Court will come to a decision that is fair and based on the law. All we can do is grab our popcorn and watch the show!
Deo Volente!
Barima Peprah-Agyemang is a co-founder and director of Akensie, a Ghanaian game startup. He writes from Sunyani.
