NPP Petition Amendment Will Not Change the Nature of the Case - Mike Oquaye

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Philip Abu Danquah NPP.ORGINIZER.NYC 11 years ago

THANK YOU POP.

THANK YOU POP.
EVIL DWARF FROM KYEBI 11 years ago

Oh! Yes, it won't change President Mahama into the dwarf/midget. That wimp will not be made President by the Supreme Court. Ghanaians chose their President in John Mahama......pure and simple.

Oh! Yes, it won't change President Mahama into the dwarf/midget. That wimp will not be made President by the Supreme Court. Ghanaians chose their President in John Mahama......pure and simple.
IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

As the case drags on, Nana and Jake will continue to hold themselves as NPP leaders. This is actually their main motive of filing the petition. Since 8th December, NPP has been changing its positions. For each polling station ...
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As the case drags on, Nana and Jake will continue to hold themselves as NPP leaders. This is actually their main motive of filing the petition. Since 8th December, NPP has been changing its positions. For each polling station, NDC will bring at least a witness. So, they can even choose to include all the polling stations, we don't care. The good news is that, the Mahama-led Administration is unrolling and in 2016, the court-entangled NPP will have no message for the electorate as usual.
DusTY-FooT-pHiloSophER 11 years ago

After disputing the electoral commission's (EC) declaration of John Dramani Mahama as the winner of the 2012 presidential elections, it then took them some three weeks if not more to gather their so-called “hot evidence” ...
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After disputing the electoral commission's (EC) declaration of John Dramani Mahama as the winner of the 2012 presidential elections, it then took them some three weeks if not more to gather their so-called “hot evidence” and suddenly out of the blue a clarion cry come screaming some ‘inadequate evidence’ from their own docket and “Oopsy Daisy,” more of the same bogus evidence has been unearthed from their hideout @ their “Kukurudian underworld” for which to them necessitate an imminent amendment-writ in precedence of the Supreme Court.

This, my friend, is spurious before all and holding the poor taxpayers of Oman Ghana to an unnecessary ransom for no fault of theirs is a psychological crime they will live to regret such another day, trust me! Oh Gee, how dubious could one really get more than these besieged yahoos in some fake political outfit claiming to be champions of democracy at our part of town, my heavenly Yakubu?
TerriblY Spe cifiC 11 years ago

I AM SURE THE SC ARE FED UP WITH ALL THE ALTERARTIONS, SURGERIES NPP ARE DOING. WHY SHOULD WE ALLOW THIS.

I AM SURE THE SC ARE FED UP WITH ALL THE ALTERARTIONS, SURGERIES NPP ARE DOING. WHY SHOULD WE ALLOW THIS.
DusTY-FooT-pHiloSophER 11 years ago

READ ON: The Supreme Court will on February 5, give multiple rulings in the case in which New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and two others are challenging the validity of the electi ...
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READ ON: The Supreme Court will on February 5, give multiple rulings in the case in which New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and two others are challenging the validity of the election of John Mahama as president, as the petitioners amended their petition.

Yesterday morning, the petitioners amended their petition because they had finally completed their analysis of all the pink sheets available to them, finding substantially more electoral violations and malpractices.

These alleged irregularities now affect 4,670,504 votes out of the 10,995,262 “valid” votes cast.

Annulling them will take out 3,101,590 from John Mahama's total and 1,473,346 from Nana Akufo-Addo.

The petitioners are therefore asking for the results in 11,916 polling stations to be annulled, instead of the 4,709 in the original petition.

This will bring John Mahama's total valid votes cast to 39.1% (2,473,171) and Akufo-Addo's to 3,775,552, making him the clear winner by 59.69%.

This is because about 67% of the illegal votes that the petitioners are asking to be annulled benefited the NDC candidate.

On February 5, the nine-member panel chaired by Justice William Atuguba will determine whether or not to order the petitioners: Nana Akufo-Addo, his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and NPP Chairman Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, to furnish the Electoral Commission (EC) with 'further and better particulars' of the 4,709 polling stations where they (petitioners) claim irregularities occurred during the December 7 & 8, 2012 general election.

The highest court of the land will again determine whether or not to order the petitioners to furnish the1st respondent (President Mahama) with the same 'further and better particulars' of the 4,709 polling stations where they claim irregularities occurred during the December 7 & 8, 2012 general election.

The two applications for 'further and better particulars' had been moved separately by James Quarshie-Idun, supported by Anthony Dabi and Stanley Amarteifio for the EC and Tony Lithur, assisted by Dr. Abdul Bassit Aziz Bamba for President Mahama.

Finally, the court will also give a ruling on whether or not to grant leave for an application for interrogatories filed by the petitioners to order the EC to furnish the court with particulars of Ghanaians serving abroad including foreign service officials, students on government scholarships abroad, Ghanaians working in international organizations and security service personnel returning on duties.

Philip Addison, supported by Gloria Akuffo, Frank Davies, Alex Quaynor, Akoto Ampaw, Kwame Akuffo, Nana Asante Bediatuo, Godfred Yeboah Dame, Egbert Faibille and Professor Kenneth Attafuah had moved the application for interrogatories on Monday which was responded to by counsel for both the EC and the President.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) which the court ruled was an interested party to the petition and subsequently made the 3 rd respondent did not file any application to either support or object to the applications.

Tsikata's Intervention
When the court was about to fix a date for ruling, Tsatu Tsikata, supported by Samuel Cujoe and Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, counsel for the NDC, requested that the NDC be allowed to respond to the petitioner's application because with the nature of interrogatory application, all the parties in the matter needed to be heard.

Tony Lithur, in support of Mr. Tsikata, had said 'we should be allowed to contribute to this application. To constrain us to constantly file an application on any issue cannot be the best.'

The Court's Ruling
As a result, the court in a 6-3 majority said that the NDC could be heard but should file officially.

Justices Paul Baffoe-Bonnie and Annin Yeboah had ruled that the NDC could not be heard while Atuguba said Mr. Tsikata could be heard 'on points of law now.'

The remaining Justices, Julius Ansah, Sophia O. Adinyira, Rose C. Owusu, Jones Victor Dotse, Sule N. Gbadegbe and Vida Akoto-Bamfo had said the NDC could be heard but needed to file on notice thereby adjourning the proceedings.

Tsikata's Application
Yesterday, when the case resumed, Mr. Tsikata moved the application saying that what the petitioners were seeking to do 'was an abuse of the court's processes.'

'We submit that the processes of discovery, in particular the service of interrogatories is to obtain information as to facts material to the issues before the court. The petitioners had made claims about irregularity which they sought to particularize and are asking that over 1.3 million votes count to be annulled. They have sought orders on the basis of these claims.'

He argued that no issue arose about the registration processes for the purposes of the order that the petitioners sought saying 'none of these issues have any relevance to the orders they are seeking. The orders are votes actually cast which they are seeking to annul.'

He said the petitioners would be broadening the scope of the petition beyond the matters they are seeking the court to determine adding 'It is clear that an election petition of this nature brought under C.I. 74 is a process which the legislature intends to have it dealt with expeditiously and justly.'

He said neither the cause of justice would be served in broadening the scope of the petition saying 'even though C.I. 74 itself does not have specific provision on interrogatories, we submit that Order 22 (2) of C.I 47 of the Civil Procedure is material in outlining significant factors that the court may take into consideration.'

He said the Supreme Court is obliged to apply stricter criteria in the interest of justice and efficiency when dealing with some of the applications.

'The court does not sit on an election petition as if it were a research project of an academic nature. The court sits in order to achieve justice. There is no basis laid by the applicant to justify the grant of interrogatories.'

He said that in respect of the 4,709 polling stations 'there is no indication in the pleading of the petitioners of how the interrogatories relate to what had happened.'

'It will be dangerous for this procedure to develop such a wide scope of enquiry that we could never successfully conclude in this investigation.

'The application is in the nature of a fishing expedition which cannot be countenanced by this court,' he argued.

He said that the petitioners were invoking the inherent jurisdiction of the court but 'this inherent jurisdiction is not a device for abusing the process of the court in relation to election petition.'

EC's Response
Mr. Quashie-Idun, in his response, said that there was no indication that any voting took place outside Ghana adding 'everything was done in the 26,002 polling stations in the country.'

Mr. Addison said that the petitioners had never said that there was voting outside Ghana as contested by the EC.

'This is an afterthought after having heard the NDC counsel,' he told the EC counsel.

He said the petitioners had specifically asked for the total number of voters who were registered abroad and not any voting outside Ghana because the issue of over-voting had been raised in the petition adding 'If there is a bloated register, it will facilitate over-voting.'

Mr. Addison said interrogatories relate to matters in issues between the petitioners and the EC adding 'They are necessary in the fairly disposal of the petition.'

Citing authorities to buttress his case, the petitioner's counsel said there was an issue arising between the petitioners and the EC in relation to the total number of registered voters and it was within their rights to ensure that the issue was settled.

Just as counsel turned to address the issue raised by the NDC in moving their application in opposition, Mr. Tsikata said that the petitioners' counsel had already argued but Justice Atuguba cut in to say that the petitioners were entitled to respond to Mr. Tsikata's submission.

Addison's Rebuttal
Mr. Addison then continued that he did not see why a third party (the NDC) should come into something that strictly was between the petitioners and the EC who had conducted the voter registration exercise.

'We are saying that this is between the petitioners and the 2 nd respondent; not the 1 st , not the 3 rd . The EC is directly affected by the interrogatories.'

He said that the EC was represented in court by 'A very senior and experienced counsel who did not deem it fit to raise these issues. His only issue was that we should do it at the close of pleadings.'

He said the petitioner's request for the total number of Ghanaian registered abroad when granted 'would not lead to the petitioners amending their pleadings as put forward by the NDC counsel. That is not the purpose of interrogatories.'

Mr. Addison alerted the court that the petitioners had been served with a fresh application for interrogatories filed by President Mahama and asked 'Is Mr. Tsikata saying that it is an abuse of the court's process?'

He said that the service of that application showed clearly that the 3 rd respondent (NDC) was not included in that move and concluded that 'this (NDC) intervention is nothing more than a red herring.'

Controversy
Mr. Tsikata then claimed that the NDC had been served with the President's application but Mr. Addison hit back saying, 'This is a court of record. The document I hold here does not indicate service on the 3 rd respondent (NDC). If they have made photocopies privately they should tell us.'

Another NDC application imminent
Mr. Tsikata then told the court that, 'We have just filed our application for further and better particulars. It was set for February 5.'

He proposed to the justices to allow him to move the application on the date so that the court could decide on all the applications together but Justice Dotse told him that it was not before the court and they could not grant the proposal.

Baring any further preliminary objections, the February 5 decisions might finally pave way for the court to investigate whether the EC validly declared Mr. Mahama as President-elect in the December 7 and 8 general elections.

The three petitioners were not in court. They were all represented by Fred Oware, an executive member of the NPP.

By William Yaw Owusu
ATO 11 years ago

THE NPP IS NOW SEKING TO ANNUL OVER FOUR MILLION VOTES. THAT IS NEARLY HALF OF ALL THE VOTES CAST IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. SO IN EFFECT, AKUFFO ADDO AND JAKE OBETSEBI LAMPTEY ARE SEEKING TO DISENFRANCHISE NEARLY HALF OF ...
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THE NPP IS NOW SEKING TO ANNUL OVER FOUR MILLION VOTES. THAT IS NEARLY HALF OF ALL THE VOTES CAST IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. SO IN EFFECT, AKUFFO ADDO AND JAKE OBETSEBI LAMPTEY ARE SEEKING TO DISENFRANCHISE NEARLY HALF OF ALL THE GHANAIAN CITIZENS WHO VOTED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THAT IS AMAZING!!.
DENNIS AVOY, Italy 11 years ago

THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS MAKING NPP TO CONTINUE DREAMING, THEY ARE STILL DREAMING BECAUSE ASIEDU NKETIA'S COMENT OF THEM BEING DISTURBED BY MATHEMATICS IS BECOMING CLEAR, LET THEM CONTINUE DREAMING TILL NEXT ELECTION COMES ...
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THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS MAKING NPP TO CONTINUE DREAMING, THEY ARE STILL DREAMING BECAUSE ASIEDU NKETIA'S COMENT OF THEM BEING DISTURBED BY MATHEMATICS IS BECOMING CLEAR, LET THEM CONTINUE DREAMING TILL NEXT ELECTION COMES AROUND
TRUTH 11 years ago

I AM REMINDED NOT TO SPEAK ILL OF ANY OLDER PERSON. BUT SOMETIMES,THESE PEOPLE WE HAVE TO LOOK UP TO AS SENIOR CITIZENS AND GO TO FOR ADVICE ARE BECOMING A DISGRACE TO SOCIETY. UNCLE MIKE, IF YOUR TIME IN POLITICS HAS COME TO ...
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I AM REMINDED NOT TO SPEAK ILL OF ANY OLDER PERSON. BUT SOMETIMES,THESE PEOPLE WE HAVE TO LOOK UP TO AS SENIOR CITIZENS AND GO TO FOR ADVICE ARE BECOMING A DISGRACE TO SOCIETY. UNCLE MIKE, IF YOUR TIME IN POLITICS HAS COME TO AN END, PLEASE JOIN THE HONEST SENIOR CITIZENS WHO KNOWS NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH NO MATTER WHERE IT HURTS,PLEASE,PLEASE. THIS GOES TO OPANYIN APPIAH OFORI AS WELL. WE NEED HONORABLE SENIOR CITIZENS TO LOOK UP TO.POLITICS AND POLITICIANS HAS NEVER BEEN HONEST AND THEY ARE NOT HONORABLE IN MY VIEW.
BONEHEARD 11 years ago

I DONT THINK THIS PROF IS A GA MAN. HE IS A DISGRACE TO THE GA TRIBE. MAYBE HE WAS ADOPTED. AND EVEN STILL HE CANNOT BE SUCH A FOOL.IF I HAD TO BE IN HIS CLASSROOM I WOULD SHOOT HIM BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING BETTER TO LEARN FR ...
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I DONT THINK THIS PROF IS A GA MAN. HE IS A DISGRACE TO THE GA TRIBE. MAYBE HE WAS ADOPTED. AND EVEN STILL HE CANNOT BE SUCH A FOOL.IF I HAD TO BE IN HIS CLASSROOM I WOULD SHOOT HIM BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING BETTER TO LEARN FROM HIM
fredsaid 11 years ago

You do not make any sense here. What has the fact that he is a GA or you doubt he is a GA got to do with the case he and his ppl are making at the supreme court; that the election has been stolen and they have evidence and m ...
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You do not make any sense here. What has the fact that he is a GA or you doubt he is a GA got to do with the case he and his ppl are making at the supreme court; that the election has been stolen and they have evidence and more evidence to show the court.

You cannot even write basic English and make sense of what you are saying. You think there is nothing you can learn from him and because of that you want to shoot him? What kind of crazy thinking and action is that. These are the people who think they can learn something better from Asiedu Nketia and co.
yeboah 11 years ago

DOES THIS MAN 'PROFESOR'NOT HAVE ANYTHING POSIIVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO GHANA NOTHING

DOES THIS MAN 'PROFESOR'NOT HAVE ANYTHING POSIIVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO GHANA NOTHING
Joe 11 years ago

It weekens the case of the NPP. Remember Gabby Otchere Darko told the whole world that the evidence from 4,709 was so overwhlming it would blow away our heads, and Nana would win over 51% All you need is get 50%+1
So why add ...
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It weekens the case of the NPP. Remember Gabby Otchere Darko told the whole world that the evidence from 4,709 was so overwhlming it would blow away our heads, and Nana would win over 51% All you need is get 50%+1
So why adding more burden to your case if what you have is sufficient? Or is it no more convincing they now have to fish for more, just in case what they presented can't stand scrutiny. What happened to the theory of "one credible witness being better than a thousand pathological liars?" So for the ambition of one man, the votes of 4 million Ghanaians should be annulled? My God. Which judge would stomach this nonsense? I think the "Let My Vote Count Association" should be renamed "Let Only NPP Votes Count Association" LONVCA for short.
Aboagye Mensah 11 years ago

Move the court to Manhyia Palace, Kumasi then make the Asantehene Otumfour the sole judge and then make Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo the President and Nana Koandu Agyemang Rawlings the Vice President and let us have peace in ...
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Move the court to Manhyia Palace, Kumasi then make the Asantehene Otumfour the sole judge and then make Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo the President and Nana Koandu Agyemang Rawlings the Vice President and let us have peace in Ghana
kwame 11 years ago

Otumfour donot support nonsense, He did not wellcome them when they wanted to go to him at Manhyia with the nonsense.

Otumfour donot support nonsense, He did not wellcome them when they wanted to go to him at Manhyia with the nonsense.
Kofi Amankwaa, London 11 years ago

Joe,

You do not "add more burden" to your case by strenthening your support evidence.It simply makes sense demonstrate the depth and potency of your case by presenting as full a portfolio of evidence as is practicably pos ...
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Joe,

You do not "add more burden" to your case by strenthening your support evidence.It simply makes sense demonstrate the depth and potency of your case by presenting as full a portfolio of evidence as is practicably possible.
This is not space law- it is commonsense.
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago

You talk of common sense? Do you really believe the crap the NPP is dabling in?

You talk of common sense? Do you really believe the crap the NPP is dabling in?
johnny 11 years ago

A good one there.

A good one there.
GOAHEAD 11 years ago

NPP ARE SORE LOSERS.

NPP ARE SORE LOSERS.
Fedi 11 years ago

The security forces must arrest Afari Gyan and his accomplices and charges of treason levied against them for the grave injustice meted out to Ghanaians by way of vote fraud. But for the timely intervention of Nana Akufo Addo ...
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The security forces must arrest Afari Gyan and his accomplices and charges of treason levied against them for the grave injustice meted out to Ghanaians by way of vote fraud. But for the timely intervention of Nana Akufo Addo, his wisdom and calls for peace, this country would have been another Ivory Coast. The post election peace we are enjoying is mainly due to Nana's love of peace and Ghana...!!!
johnny 11 years ago

Fedi, do you eat grass? All of what is happening now would not have been the case if Nana and his crooks had not decided not to accept the declaration by the EC and asked their followers to go protesting. You certainly have ...
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Fedi, do you eat grass? All of what is happening now would not have been the case if Nana and his crooks had not decided not to accept the declaration by the EC and asked their followers to go protesting. You certainly have forgotten about the people, including Pressmen, attacked by NPP supporters.
insight to the bone 11 years ago

it is delusional to think this govt is anything but a criminal mafia that killed mills ,rigged the elections and has now implemented tho worse form of minority dominated govt by making ghana islamic . they are here to rob us ...
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it is delusional to think this govt is anything but a criminal mafia that killed mills ,rigged the elections and has now implemented tho worse form of minority dominated govt by making ghana islamic . they are here to rob us blind and enslave us in our own country , Akans will leave eventually but it seems we will have to call the referendum sooner than expected on that matter . The economic mathematics guarantees the Akans will have european or western standard and money within a year of breaking free from this prison called Ghana
Remove Indenity Clause 11 years ago

Do we have politics in Ghana or politricks?

Do we have politics in Ghana or politricks?
DR. J 11 years ago

Today this, tomorrow that, common men stop this nonsense NPP, you said you had serious evidence with 4,000 now you moving the goal post to almost 12,000?

Today this, tomorrow that, common men stop this nonsense NPP, you said you had serious evidence with 4,000 now you moving the goal post to almost 12,000?
ike 11 years ago

No pls. goal posts are only shifted when one digresses from say orange to groundnut but adding more oranges to oranges does not change anything. NPP is only adding to the numbers so no goal shifting of goal post here.

No pls. goal posts are only shifted when one digresses from say orange to groundnut but adding more oranges to oranges does not change anything. NPP is only adding to the numbers so no goal shifting of goal post here.
KOZAH MAN 11 years ago

WHY SHUOLD NPP DECEIVED THEM SELVES ?
ARE THEY NOT AWERE THAT THEY CAN NOT USE THEIR MOUTH ALONE FOR THEIR WITHNESSES BUT THEIR REPLESENTATIVES
WILL APEAR BEFORE COURT?THEREFORE 11,916 PEOPLES BY 3 PARTIES WHEN ARE THY GOIN ...
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WHY SHUOLD NPP DECEIVED THEM SELVES ?
ARE THEY NOT AWERE THAT THEY CAN NOT USE THEIR MOUTH ALONE FOR THEIR WITHNESSES BUT THEIR REPLESENTATIVES
WILL APEAR BEFORE COURT?THEREFORE 11,916 PEOPLES BY 3 PARTIES WHEN ARE THY GOING TO FINISH ?THEY JOKING.
Captein 11 years ago

So why did they waste the Supreme Court's and Ghanaians time to do just that. Do these NPP know "BOOK" at all.
What is wrong with these people.
Oh yes I know as Gabby said now it is not even reason or logic but the same OL ...
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So why did they waste the Supreme Court's and Ghanaians time to do just that. Do these NPP know "BOOK" at all.
What is wrong with these people.
Oh yes I know as Gabby said now it is not even reason or logic but the same OLD politics, tricks that will yield nothing heh! I wonder what else they have in their hand. Make governing ungovernable for the NDC.
Ok, Ghanaians are watching the NPP will remain in the BUSH ad infinitum.
BOY KOFI 11 years ago

If you say that you have won the presidential elections by 59.69%,it literally means you have declared yourself the President of Ghana without the concerns of the Electoral Commission.This is the essential logic of Nana Addo' ...
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If you say that you have won the presidential elections by 59.69%,it literally means you have declared yourself the President of Ghana without the concerns of the Electoral Commission.This is the essential logic of Nana Addo's amendment.The very fact that the figures have come to the public domain;Nana Addo has committed a big error in declaring himself the winner,he has no mandate to do that whatsoever.Thank you.
Prosper 11 years ago

Who are you fooling? If it's as simple as adding 20 to 100, why don't you keep it as complementary evidence without having to amend the whole petition and saving time by so doing?

Who are you fooling? If it's as simple as adding 20 to 100, why don't you keep it as complementary evidence without having to amend the whole petition and saving time by so doing?
Agbley 11 years ago

Re NPP Petition Amendment is telling me of my school days when I did struggle to give correct answers to questions. If my assertion is true, then i beg the NPP to stop deceiving Ghanians on the fraud of elections. I am a sy ...
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Re NPP Petition Amendment is telling me of my school days when I did struggle to give correct answers to questions. If my assertion is true, then i beg the NPP to stop deceiving Ghanians on the fraud of elections. I am a sympathizer of the party, but my hope his declining because of the turn out of events, most probably join people who ask themselves why they have to go and stand in the sun and cast their votes and would not have their peace after results declared. this kind of practice must be ended allow the citizenry go about their normal work in peace. the question is, how would one rule if there is no peace in the country, your answer is as best as mine.
justice 11 years ago

I DONT THINK BAWUMIA IS A TRUE MUSLEM.
BAWUMIA IS A LIAR

I DONT THINK BAWUMIA IS A TRUE MUSLEM.
BAWUMIA IS A LIAR
OGYAM 11 years ago

Some of our leaders must be very unstable in their minds. Let the prof do the maths and tell us how many of the 1.3million votes went to Nana and how many were stolen for DJM. Gone are the days when 1+1=2. in modern times 1+1 ...
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Some of our leaders must be very unstable in their minds. Let the prof do the maths and tell us how many of the 1.3million votes went to Nana and how many were stolen for DJM. Gone are the days when 1+1=2. in modern times 1+1=10. Wake up folks.
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago

THE NATURE OF THE CASE CHANGES

You again, professor? Last weekend you were at Dome-Kwabenya, launching the “Let My Vote Count” crap. Today you are out telling us that praying the SC to annul the results of 11,916 sta ...
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THE NATURE OF THE CASE CHANGES

You again, professor? Last weekend you were at Dome-Kwabenya, launching the “Let My Vote Count” crap. Today you are out telling us that praying the SC to annul the results of 11,916 stations instead of the 4,709 in the original petition will not change the nature of the case?

Professor Mike Oquaye, the nature of the case becomes very questionable because you are lying to Ghanaians. For the avoidance of doubts, I will explain why you are lying to Ghanaians. On December 28, the petitioners stated in their petition to the SC that of 24,000 polling stations examined (92% of the total polling stations in the country) the results of 4,709 were questionable, and as such, be struck out of the declaration of the EC. This implied that they had not been able to examine only 2,000 polling station results. A month later (today, February 1) they are out telling us that with further examination (which should mean the remainder 2,000 polling stations) they find 11,916 polling station results to be questionable. I am really begging to be told how one can get 7,209 erroneous polling station results out of 2,000 polling stations. Or are they telling us that after “chopping” 21 days to examine 24,000 polling stations and submitting their petition, they went back to ground zero and started the business all over? Are these guys jokers?

Prof, if you have nothing to do, please spend more time reading the bible and dedicate the rest of your days to saving souls, starting from your mis-informed, mis-guided and, apparently, ignorant colleagues.

Prof, so many issues and questions come up when your people, out of the blue, come up with such outrageous “findings” as the 11,916 “doubtful” polling station results. When you come out with such infantile claims observers will be asking whether you are serious; whether you really have a case; whether your claims have any substance, etc, etc. A supposedly “matured” party of your sort (NPP) should not involve itself in such nonsense. And even if the party decides to dabble in such a mess, people like you (elderly, academic, ex-diplomat, lawyer, ex-legislator, Baptist minister, etc) should show some sense of decency and responsibility by advising the party to refrain from such nonsense.

Teach us, by leading by example that you have attained the age of wisdom, which is what we in Ghana accord to people of your age and social stature.
AZ 11 years ago

hehehehehhe, they don't know what they are saying, *LET MY VOTE COUNT* and you are calling for 4000000 votes to be cancelled? God help Ghana. but i will not be surprise if there be any uprising in Ghana, the way some people a ...
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hehehehehhe, they don't know what they are saying, *LET MY VOTE COUNT* and you are calling for 4000000 votes to be cancelled? God help Ghana. but i will not be surprise if there be any uprising in Ghana, the way some people are desperate to become presidents. and wonder how our motherland would be like in case of such calamity. if not a heartless akuffo addo, how can a court make you a presidents if there were irregularities? not a rerun but you should be made president, how on earth is this going to happen? or because the npp knows that even a rerun they will still lose?
kenmatics 11 years ago

NDC needs to give NPP a sound beating in 2016. this people have managed to mud the swift victory of JM.

NDC needs to give NPP a sound beating in 2016. this people have managed to mud the swift victory of JM.
KA AKYIRE 11 years ago

ANOTHER OF THE AKUFFO ADDO BOOT LICKERS.
AT YOUR AGE AND QUALIFICATION YOU CANNOT THINK FOR YOURSELF. A FOOL AND AN APOLOGY OF A GA MAN

ANOTHER OF THE AKUFFO ADDO BOOT LICKERS.
AT YOUR AGE AND QUALIFICATION YOU CANNOT THINK FOR YOURSELF. A FOOL AND AN APOLOGY OF A GA MAN
Whatever 11 years ago

Will a petition still look exactly like the way it was before after 2.7 million more votes have been added to it? That 2.7million is even a tripple of the total volume of votes coming from the whole volta region. I think most ...
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Will a petition still look exactly like the way it was before after 2.7 million more votes have been added to it? That 2.7million is even a tripple of the total volume of votes coming from the whole volta region. I think most of these NPP gurus don't understand the English they speak
kwame bobie 11 years ago

They had wanted to change the evidents they have but they cannot say it because it will convince the court they have no case and reject the case at ones, so they take this strategy to keep the case ajourning but in the long ...
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They had wanted to change the evidents they have but they cannot say it because it will convince the court they have no case and reject the case at ones, so they take this strategy to keep the case ajourning but in the long run, everything will finaly reach the end point where they cannot do or twist anything more unless the court wants to exhibit it biaseness ones again.
THE CHOSEN WAN 11 years ago

THESE KOKOASI NKURASI FO THINK WE ALL COME FROM THE SAME BUSH.
ON DECEMBER NINE(9)THEY TOLD THE E.C.NOT TO ANNOUNCE THE ELECTION RESULT BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTORAL PROCESSES.
TWO MONTHS DOWN THE LINE WE WI ...
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THESE KOKOASI NKURASI FO THINK WE ALL COME FROM THE SAME BUSH.
ON DECEMBER NINE(9)THEY TOLD THE E.C.NOT TO ANNOUNCE THE ELECTION RESULT BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTORAL PROCESSES.
TWO MONTHS DOWN THE LINE WE WILL HAVE BEIGN WAITING FOR THE GOAL POST TO BE SHIFTING.
DusTY-FooT-pHiloSophER 11 years ago

The Supreme Court will on February 5, give multiple rulings in the case in which New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and two others are challenging the validity of the election of John ...
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The Supreme Court will on February 5, give multiple rulings in the case in which New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and two others are challenging the validity of the election of John Mahama as president, as the petitioners amended their petition.

Yesterday morning, the petitioners amended their petition because they had finally completed their analysis of all the pink sheets available to them, finding substantially more electoral violations and malpractices.

These alleged irregularities now affect 4,670,504 votes out of the 10,995,262 “valid” votes cast.

Annulling them will take out 3,101,590 from John Mahama's total and 1,473,346 from Nana Akufo-Addo.

The petitioners are therefore asking for the results in 11,916 polling stations to be annulled, instead of the 4,709 in the original petition.

This will bring John Mahama's total valid votes cast to 39.1% (2,473,171) and Akufo-Addo's to 3,775,552, making him the clear winner by 59.69%.

This is because about 67% of the illegal votes that the petitioners are asking to be annulled benefited the NDC candidate.

On February 5, the nine-member panel chaired by Justice William Atuguba will determine whether or not to order the petitioners: Nana Akufo-Addo, his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and NPP Chairman Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, to furnish the Electoral Commission (EC) with 'further and better particulars' of the 4,709 polling stations where they (petitioners) claim irregularities occurred during the December 7 & 8, 2012 general election.

The highest court of the land will again determine whether or not to order the petitioners to furnish the1st respondent (President Mahama) with the same 'further and better particulars' of the 4,709 polling stations where they claim irregularities occurred during the December 7 & 8, 2012 general election.

The two applications for 'further and better particulars' had been moved separately by James Quarshie-Idun, supported by Anthony Dabi and Stanley Amarteifio for the EC and Tony Lithur, assisted by Dr. Abdul Bassit Aziz Bamba for President Mahama.

Finally, the court will also give a ruling on whether or not to grant leave for an application for interrogatories filed by the petitioners to order the EC to furnish the court with particulars of Ghanaians serving abroad including foreign service officials, students on government scholarships abroad, Ghanaians working in international organizations and security service personnel returning on duties.

Philip Addison, supported by Gloria Akuffo, Frank Davies, Alex Quaynor, Akoto Ampaw, Kwame Akuffo, Nana Asante Bediatuo, Godfred Yeboah Dame, Egbert Faibille and Professor Kenneth Attafuah had moved the application for interrogatories on Monday which was responded to by counsel for both the EC and the President.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) which the court ruled was an interested party to the petition and subsequently made the 3 rd respondent did not file any application to either support or object to the applications.

Tsikata's Intervention
When the court was about to fix a date for ruling, Tsatu Tsikata, supported by Samuel Cujoe and Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, counsel for the NDC, requested that the NDC be allowed to respond to the petitioner's application because with the nature of interrogatory application, all the parties in the matter needed to be heard.

Tony Lithur, in support of Mr. Tsikata, had said 'we should be allowed to contribute to this application. To constrain us to constantly file an application on any issue cannot be the best.'

The Court's Ruling
As a result, the court in a 6-3 majority said that the NDC could be heard but should file officially.

Justices Paul Baffoe-Bonnie and Annin Yeboah had ruled that the NDC could not be heard while Atuguba said Mr. Tsikata could be heard 'on points of law now.'

The remaining Justices, Julius Ansah, Sophia O. Adinyira, Rose C. Owusu, Jones Victor Dotse, Sule N. Gbadegbe and Vida Akoto-Bamfo had said the NDC could be heard but needed to file on notice thereby adjourning the proceedings.

Tsikata's Application
Yesterday, when the case resumed, Mr. Tsikata moved the application saying that what the petitioners were seeking to do 'was an abuse of the court's processes.'

'We submit that the processes of discovery, in particular the service of interrogatories is to obtain information as to facts material to the issues before the court. The petitioners had made claims about irregularity which they sought to particularize and are asking that over 1.3 million votes count to be annulled. They have sought orders on the basis of these claims.'

He argued that no issue arose about the registration processes for the purposes of the order that the petitioners sought saying 'none of these issues have any relevance to the orders they are seeking. The orders are votes actually cast which they are seeking to annul.'

He said the petitioners would be broadening the scope of the petition beyond the matters they are seeking the court to determine adding 'It is clear that an election petition of this nature brought under C.I. 74 is a process which the legislature intends to have it dealt with expeditiously and justly.'

He said neither the cause of justice would be served in broadening the scope of the petition saying 'even though C.I. 74 itself does not have specific provision on interrogatories, we submit that Order 22 (2) of C.I 47 of the Civil Procedure is material in outlining significant factors that the court may take into consideration.'

He said the Supreme Court is obliged to apply stricter criteria in the interest of justice and efficiency when dealing with some of the applications.

'The court does not sit on an election petition as if it were a research project of an academic nature. The court sits in order to achieve justice. There is no basis laid by the applicant to justify the grant of interrogatories.'

He said that in respect of the 4,709 polling stations 'there is no indication in the pleading of the petitioners of how the interrogatories relate to what had happened.'

'It will be dangerous for this procedure to develop such a wide scope of enquiry that we could never successfully conclude in this investigation.

'The application is in the nature of a fishing expedition which cannot be countenanced by this court,' he argued.

He said that the petitioners were invoking the inherent jurisdiction of the court but 'this inherent jurisdiction is not a device for abusing the process of the court in relation to election petition.'

EC's Response
Mr. Quashie-Idun, in his response, said that there was no indication that any voting took place outside Ghana adding 'everything was done in the 26,002 polling stations in the country.'

Mr. Addison said that the petitioners had never said that there was voting outside Ghana as contested by the EC.

'This is an afterthought after having heard the NDC counsel,' he told the EC counsel.

He said the petitioners had specifically asked for the total number of voters who were registered abroad and not any voting outside Ghana because the issue of over-voting had been raised in the petition adding 'If there is a bloated register, it will facilitate over-voting.'

Mr. Addison said interrogatories relate to matters in issues between the petitioners and the EC adding 'They are necessary in the fairly disposal of the petition.'

Citing authorities to buttress his case, the petitioner's counsel said there was an issue arising between the petitioners and the EC in relation to the total number of registered voters and it was within their rights to ensure that the issue was settled.

Just as counsel turned to address the issue raised by the NDC in moving their application in opposition, Mr. Tsikata said that the petitioners' counsel had already argued but Justice Atuguba cut in to say that the petitioners were entitled to respond to Mr. Tsikata's submission.

Addison's Rebuttal
Mr. Addison then continued that he did not see why a third party (the NDC) should come into something that strictly was between the petitioners and the EC who had conducted the voter registration exercise.

'We are saying that this is between the petitioners and the 2 nd respondent; not the 1 st , not the 3 rd . The EC is directly affected by the interrogatories.'

He said that the EC was represented in court by 'A very senior and experienced counsel who did not deem it fit to raise these issues. His only issue was that we should do it at the close of pleadings.'

He said the petitioner's request for the total number of Ghanaian registered abroad when granted 'would not lead to the petitioners amending their pleadings as put forward by the NDC counsel. That is not the purpose of interrogatories.'

Mr. Addison alerted the court that the petitioners had been served with a fresh application for interrogatories filed by President Mahama and asked 'Is Mr. Tsikata saying that it is an abuse of the court's process?'

He said that the service of that application showed clearly that the 3 rd respondent (NDC) was not included in that move and concluded that 'this (NDC) intervention is nothing more than a red herring.'

Controversy
Mr. Tsikata then claimed that the NDC had been served with the President's application but Mr. Addison hit back saying, 'This is a court of record. The document I hold here does not indicate service on the 3 rd respondent (NDC). If they have made photocopies privately they should tell us.'

Another NDC application imminent
Mr. Tsikata then told the court that, 'We have just filed our application for further and better particulars. It was set for February 5.'

He proposed to the justices to allow him to move the application on the date so that the court could decide on all the applications together but Justice Dotse told him that it was not before the court and they could not grant the proposal.

Baring any further preliminary objections, the February 5 decisions might finally pave way for the court to investigate whether the EC validly declared Mr. Mahama as President-elect in the December 7 and 8 general elections.

The three petitioners were not in court. They were all represented by Fred Oware, an executive member of the NPP.

By William Yaw Owusu
ALHASA MORO 11 years ago

SO MIKE QUAYE DOES NOT KNOW THAT FROM 100 JUMP TO 200 MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND PROGRESS?

SO MIKE QUAYE DOES NOT KNOW THAT FROM 100 JUMP TO 200 MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND PROGRESS?
ASANTEWA 11 years ago

ASEM BEBA(LISTEN JM/NDC)

ASEM BEBA(LISTEN JM/NDC)
k2 11 years ago

Is history trying to repeat itself between Nana and Tsatsu about amendment of issue again?

Is history trying to repeat itself between Nana and Tsatsu about amendment of issue again?
Victor A. Young 11 years ago

Seriously, the NDC is a bunch of funny people. They've now changed thier tone, after making lots of noise that the NPP didn't have any evidence. They thought that the NPP won't be able to present any case withing a short peri ...
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Seriously, the NDC is a bunch of funny people. They've now changed thier tone, after making lots of noise that the NPP didn't have any evidence. They thought that the NPP won't be able to present any case withing a short period of time, after the election result was declared by the criminal EC organization. Led by their attourney Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, they say that NPP mathematically incompetent and morally bankrupt.

The NPP has painstakingly gathered enough evidence to prove to the Supreme Cour, Ghanaians and the whole world that they are serious and that the NDC, aided by the EC planned very well to rig the December elections. Prior to voting day, many things happened that led to the discovery of wicked plot to rig the election, esp. in the Gyan-Boateng tapes.

Right now, the NDC wants to use all kinds of dirty tricks to frighten Ghanaians and to cause fear among people. The NPP, through hard work and the respect of our constitution and the enhancement of democratic governance, has garthered more evidence.

NDC is criminal---they've been rigging elexctions since 1992. It's become something common to them. What a shame.
KA NA WU 11 years ago

If the amendment will not change the nature of the case and you assured us that the original evidence you had would convince the SC to annul the results, why add more? Did you deceive us in the first instance? Are we joking? ...
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If the amendment will not change the nature of the case and you assured us that the original evidence you had would convince the SC to annul the results, why add more? Did you deceive us in the first instance? Are we joking? For once, our leaders should be serious.
kofi london 11 years ago

we have our plane, i will be gong to ghana, ndc all the way

we have our plane, i will be gong to ghana, ndc all the way
sika nti 11 years ago

NDC YOUR CUPIS FULL: AKROFO

NDC YOUR CUPIS FULL: AKROFO

NPP Petition Amendment Will Not Change the Nature of the Case - Mike Oquaye

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