The Supreme Court of Ghana has adjourned the hearing of the Presidential election petition by the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama to Tuesday, 19th January, 2020.
Explaining the reason for the adjournment of the petition in a tweet, Minister for Information, and one of the spokespersons for the President for the petition hearing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah revealed that, the decision was reached on the basis of case management.
“On the first day of the hearing of the Presidential election petition, the Supreme Court has granted leave for the petitioner to amend mistakes on the face of the petition.
“Hearing adjourned to Tuesday 19th for case management.”
his tweet said
He said the Supreme Court, presided by Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, in response to an earlier objection by lawyers for the respondent, intimated that, mistakes are made.
“Haven’t you made mistakes before? We all make mistakes, don’t we?”, the court asked according to his tweet.
The motion for amendment filed by lawyers of the NDC’s flagbearer was seeking the permission of the apex court to correct a mistake in the election petition.
Hearing the case for the first time, the Apex Court granted the leave and asked the petitioner to file the amendment before 4pm, Thursday, January 14, 2021.
Also, the Respondents have been granted leave by the Supreme Court to file any amended response they might also have before 4pm on Friday, January 15, 2021.
Present at the Supreme Court for the hearing were, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa who is the first respondent and the second respondent represented by Campaign Manager of the NPP, Peter Mac Manu; along with the petitioner John Dramani Mahama.
Legal representation for the petitioner, Mr Mahama included Tony Lithur led by Tsatsu Tsikata.
Lawyers for the first respondent were Justin Amenuvor and Lawyer A. Asamoah and for the second respondent, were Lawyer Akoto Ampaw, Frank Davies, Kwaku Asirifi, and Yaw Oppong.
The seven-member panel was Presided by Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, and supported by Justice Yaw Appau; Justice Marful Sau, Justice Nene Amegatcher, Justice Prof Ashi Kotey, Justice Mariama Owusu and Justice Getrude Torkonoo.
Prior to the hearing also, the Supreme Court granted the former President, John Mahama’s request to have the proceedings of the election petition telecasted live on national television.
The green light was given after the lawyers of NDC’s presidential candidate requested for it.
The petitioners said they believe that carrying proceedings live on television is in the interest of fairness as was done during the 2012 election petition.
The Presidential election petition comes on the back of the former President John Dramani Mahama, asking the Supreme Court to order the Electoral Commission (EC) to organise a second election (a run off) between him (Mahama) and President Akufo-Addo because he believes no candidate won the 2020 presidential election.
In the document filed on December 30, the first respondent was the Electoral Commission (EC), with the second respondent being President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
