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General News of Thursday, 29 August 2013

Source: joyonline

We shall go to court chest out – Amaliba

A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team, Abraham Amaliba says the respondents in the ongoing presidential election petition may emerge victorious (Today) Thursday August 29 when the Supreme Court gives it final on the case.

"We are still firm in our conviction that the petitioners have not put up a strong case that will overturn the verdict" he stated.

The whole country is gone agog waiting for the historic verdict that could be a game changer for both the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The petitioners led by its flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo are challenging the legitimacy of John Dramani Mahama pronounced winner of the 2012 presidential elections by the Electoral Commission (EC).

The respondents made up of President Mahama (first respondent), the EC (second respondent) and the NDC as third respondent, maintained that the sins of the electoral officers must not be visited on voters.

But petitioners are of the view that there were irregularities and statutory violations in the presidential election and are praying the court to overturn the decision of the EC.

After about 47 days of protracted litigation, the nine justices presiding over the case are by now putting finishing touches to their ruling to be delivered Thursday (today).

But an optimistic Amaliba on Citifm’s eyewitness news on Wednesday, said they will go to the court on Thursday August 29 "with our chest out".

He maintained that as lawyers, they have fought their battle and are patiently waiting for the ruling by the court "hoping the day will be ours".

Abraham Amaliba noted that whatever the judges will decide "will be justice delivered by the Supreme Court".

Commenting on the conjectures and permutations on the outcome of the ruling, he stressed that the justices will have the final say, but did not rule out the fact that some permutations could be accurate.

The NDC lawyer said he is excited about the figures circulating on social media because it favours them.

Abraham Amaliba observed that "the justices would give a ruling which will reflect the fact of the case and take into consideration the national interest".

Meanwhile, a member of the NPP legal team, Yaw Boabeng Asamoah, says their work will speak for them in court.

He expressed confidence in the nine judges to dispense justice for the petitioners.

Boabeng Asamoah urged all NPP members not to concentrate on the figures circulating and have faith in the justice system.