My dear lawyer, can you tell me how duplicated serial numbers on pink sheets affect valid votes counted in public view?
My dear lawyer, can you tell me how duplicated serial numbers on pink sheets affect valid votes counted in public view?
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
The problem with duplicate serial numbers is that it raises doubt whether any of the results is genuine. the court is concerned that the respondents have to prove that it did not affect the petitioners. That is all. If they w ... read full comment
The problem with duplicate serial numbers is that it raises doubt whether any of the results is genuine. the court is concerned that the respondents have to prove that it did not affect the petitioners. That is all. If they were able to prove that then they discharged their burden.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Kwame, reading from your article and especially, your response to keen observe, it appears to me that you did not follow the hearing. If you did, you would have been aware that, Dr Afari-Gyan explained that polling stations w ... read full comment
Kwame, reading from your article and especially, your response to keen observe, it appears to me that you did not follow the hearing. If you did, you would have been aware that, Dr Afari-Gyan explained that polling stations were identified by a unique or individual identifiable number, which began with an alphabet unique to each region, followed by district, etc. In other words, the serial numbers on pinks sheets did not serve any identification purpose.
From this explanation the petitioners would be wasting their time on duplicate and triplicate serial numbers. Instead, the attention should have shifted to pink sheets with the same polling station numbers. In other words, the EC by that answer discharged its burden of proving that there were no irregularities as far as the serial numbers were concerned, let alone affect the final outcome.
The other matters such as none signatures and voting without biometric verification are matters that the Justices will decide on among others.
Kobena 10 years ago
"In other words, the serial numbers on pinks sheets did not serve any identification purpose."
So what was the purpose of printing duplicate,triplicate and quadruplicate result (pink) sheets for the same polling stations? ... read full comment
"In other words, the serial numbers on pinks sheets did not serve any identification purpose."
So what was the purpose of printing duplicate,triplicate and quadruplicate result (pink) sheets for the same polling stations? Even assuming Afari-Djan' rather implausible answer of "possible further candidates", why did the duplicates still bear the SAME names?
Almost certianly, those multiple results sheets were printed for a purpose, most likely not a very honourable one. How about the "unique" station codes that were used for different polling stations?
I believe that as a people we have to begin to demnad that the right things be done in all aspects of our national affairs because if our doctors, engineers, geoligists, and practioners of other technological disciplines were allowed to get away with such deliberate sloppiness, we will all be dead meat!
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Kobena, I only shared my view on one aspect of the petition hearing with regards to multiples of serial numbers. I also mentioned that if there were pink sheets with multiple serial numbers and the same polling station/s uniq ... read full comment
Kobena, I only shared my view on one aspect of the petition hearing with regards to multiples of serial numbers. I also mentioned that if there were pink sheets with multiple serial numbers and the same polling station/s unique number/s, then, that is a matter the EC must explain.
As far as the management and organisation of the 2012 elections were concerned (and possibly previous ones), as we all saw and heard, there were a number of unexplained mistakes, irregularities and inefficiencies that baffled me. Had it not been the hearing, I would not have believed that electoral officials in Ghana could not record elections results and information accurately. That was a shock to me. I agree with that Ghanaians must begin to demand that those in positions of trust and authority do what is expected of them. Dr Afari-Gyan and his EC have a lot to do after the verdict, especially for future elections.
Kobena 10 years ago
Kofi,
This is the way we should discuss national issues, and I have always liked your style. Whatever the verdict in this petition, what has become very clear is that we need a very comprehensive reform of our Elecctoral sys ... read full comment
Kofi,
This is the way we should discuss national issues, and I have always liked your style. Whatever the verdict in this petition, what has become very clear is that we need a very comprehensive reform of our Elecctoral system.
The EC will have to train its own permanent staff, at least 500 in each reegion. That will work out far cheaper in the end. We may even require legislation for the appointment of a Commissioner, through the Public Service rather than appointment by Presidential fiat.
I don't believe that any political party, with the exception of the ones that Paa Kwesi Nduom last led, has ever published its expenses after elections since the first election of the Fourth Republic, as required by the Constitution. This has a lot to do with state coffefrs being completely empty after each election.
Good day!
Sankofa 10 years ago
Are you sure that the petitioners did not fabricate evidence to support their case?
There were several instances where Bawumia and Addison were forced to withdraw evidence through the vigilance of the respondents. There m ... read full comment
Are you sure that the petitioners did not fabricate evidence to support their case?
There were several instances where Bawumia and Addison were forced to withdraw evidence through the vigilance of the respondents. There may well have been other falsifications which went undetected.
What is of concern is the confusion over the number of pink sheets submitted and the discrepancies between the various lots submitted to the registry, Presiding judge and the respondents.
Remember that Dr Afari-Gyan said he saw no reason to alter the results of the elections even after hearing all that the petitioners had to say. That is very important. Dr Afari-Gyan knows what he is talking about, giving his extensive experience in conducting elections.
The EC does not use pink sheets alone. It has various other documents, such as the electoral register and the ballot papers. So the use of the pink sheets alone by the petitioners as evidence for their case is deeply flawed.
The question is why did the petitioners not raise complaints to the EC during the elections and before the declaration of results? They had ample opportunity so to do and did not.
Fundamentally, why should the judges annul the votes and so disenfranchise 4 million Ghanaians on the whims of the petitioners just to allow Nana Addo to become president? Does it make sense when he only won in two out of 10 regions?
BOY KOFI 10 years ago
How can EC use duplicated pink sheets for élections?Are these duplicates,triplicates pink sheets the products of photocopy machines or what?Are you telling me some polling stations did not use original pink sheets or you are ... read full comment
How can EC use duplicated pink sheets for élections?Are these duplicates,triplicates pink sheets the products of photocopy machines or what?Are you telling me some polling stations did not use original pink sheets or you are saying that the serial numbers apeared to be the same on different polling stations?For my understanding,if the whole Ghana used the same serial numbers and different polling stations with unique codes and names then this question must be put to rest because the serial numbers are irrelevant when it comes to collation of results.Thank you.
Kobena 10 years ago
You obviously do not understand what is at stake here. The duplicate, triplicate and quadruplicate pink sheets that the petitioners used in their exhibits were ALL carbon copies of originals that the EC used at certain polli ... read full comment
You obviously do not understand what is at stake here. The duplicate, triplicate and quadruplicate pink sheets that the petitioners used in their exhibits were ALL carbon copies of originals that the EC used at certain polling stations.
Dr Afari-Djan's initial defence was that those were used for special voting. However, counsel was able to show that even for stations where special voting was done only TWO pink sheets were required and NOT three or four! That is what Afari-Djan himself found strange because each of those three or four pink sheets had different figures that were all used in the collation.
Then there were those stations that had strange A and B designations. There were contituencies in Kumasi that had 90,000 voters, yet none of them had A,B,C breakdowns. Rather it was those consituencies with 20,000 or less registered voters that had A, B, C polling station designations and it was at those stations that most of the over-voting, non-verification and non-signing of pink sheets occured. That was my contention!
BOY KOFI 10 years ago
Did I hear you say carbon copies used as pink sheets at some polling stations?This is the first time of hearing this blatant lies.Thank you.
Did I hear you say carbon copies used as pink sheets at some polling stations?This is the first time of hearing this blatant lies.Thank you.
Kobena 10 years ago
So where do you think the NPP got the pink sheets from? Hmmmmm
So where do you think the NPP got the pink sheets from? Hmmmmm
BOY KOFI 10 years ago
It's just too bad.
It's just too bad.
Sankofa 10 years ago
Is it not possible that the NPP petitioners fabricated some of those pink sheets?
After all Bawumia and Addison were forced to withdraw some of the pink sheets and other evidence which were found to be false.
We ask the ... read full comment
Is it not possible that the NPP petitioners fabricated some of those pink sheets?
After all Bawumia and Addison were forced to withdraw some of the pink sheets and other evidence which were found to be false.
We ask the judges to be extremely vigilant here. There is huge potential for fraud in so many pink sheets with the duplications etc. More fundamentally why the confusion over the number of pink sheets submitted, the disparities and the selectivity?
Citizen Kudjo. 10 years ago
So how did this duplicate pink sheets which carried results of unique n identifiable polling stations affect de results?Polling stations r identified by polling station codes and polling station names but not serial numbers o ... read full comment
So how did this duplicate pink sheets which carried results of unique n identifiable polling stations affect de results?Polling stations r identified by polling station codes and polling station names but not serial numbers on pink sheets.Weak argument.
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
Thank you, your point is well taken. I watched the hearing in it entirety, but I must admit that I still have issues in relation to his evidence that he printed only 2 sets of pink sheets, but it turns out there were 4 sets. ... read full comment
Thank you, your point is well taken. I watched the hearing in it entirety, but I must admit that I still have issues in relation to his evidence that he printed only 2 sets of pink sheets, but it turns out there were 4 sets. Again there are other evidence that just were not satisfactory, but I agree with you it is entirely a matter for the court. What I set out to do with the article was merely state the process of arriving at the decision as I understand it and nothing more.
BOY KOFI 10 years ago
If you accuse somebody of fraud and rigging the élections,you must prove it beyond doubt.We expected the petitioners to prove all their allégations beyond any shadow of doubt but they failed to do so miserably.The KPMG rubb ... read full comment
If you accuse somebody of fraud and rigging the élections,you must prove it beyond doubt.We expected the petitioners to prove all their allégations beyond any shadow of doubt but they failed to do so miserably.The KPMG rubbished Bawumia's 11842 total of pink sheets filed,what about that?I may agree with you that there were some clerical mistakes,call it irregularities.The petitioners were given opportunity to prove how they really affected the actual results.They could not do it satisfactory.Out of the millions of voters,the petitioners could not present anybody who voted twice or voted witout been verified correctly.The sole reliance on the pink sheets is not enough to overturn the declared results.This is a national affair,Nana Addo lost the élections and has not proven in court how the EC cheated him for Mahama.For example,the petitioners claimed that the duplicated serial numbers were meant for rigging the élections but they could not prove that it was used to conduct the 2012 élections.Is this not a hopeless allegation?In the United States,if you accuse somebody with 4 charges and only one is found to be false,I can assure you that the whole case will be thrown out of Supreme Court immediately.I think that is the reason the petitioners withdrew many of their false allégations.Thank you.
IDRIS PACAS 10 years ago
Since nPP is grounded on law, which of the CIs says that a pink sheet with duplicate serial number contains annullable votes? If two pink sheets have the same serial number, isn't there any other way of differentiating them? ... read full comment
Since nPP is grounded on law, which of the CIs says that a pink sheet with duplicate serial number contains annullable votes? If two pink sheets have the same serial number, isn't there any other way of differentiating them? Please, just use common sense. What has somebody's signature got to do with a vote that I queued a whole day to cast?
ema 10 years ago
laid down constitutional body procedures not followed by NPP.
administrative procedures from EC should have been followed for EC to rectify them before proceeding to court.
laid down constitutional body procedures not followed by NPP.
administrative procedures from EC should have been followed for EC to rectify them before proceeding to court.
Sankofa 10 years ago
Ema, spot on.
This lengthy court case would have been avoided if the NPP polling agents had launched complaints at the polling stations, and NPP had launched complaints before the declaration of the results. NPP had ample ... read full comment
Ema, spot on.
This lengthy court case would have been avoided if the NPP polling agents had launched complaints at the polling stations, and NPP had launched complaints before the declaration of the results. NPP had ample opportunity so to do, and did not.
This is not lost on the judges, and could be one of the grounds for dismissing the case.
********* 10 years ago
Thus guy is incredible, upon all the explanation done here he is still asking how this affect the results!
Is he kidding us?
Thus guy is incredible, upon all the explanation done here he is still asking how this affect the results!
Is he kidding us?
Kobena 10 years ago
Yes, that is the irony of it all. He has one vote just like you!
Yes, that is the irony of it all. He has one vote just like you!
Fo. Kwaku - Tanyingbe 10 years ago
NOT ON THE " FACE" OF PINK SHEETS. MR. LAWYER GET IT.
NOT ON THE " FACE" OF PINK SHEETS. MR. LAWYER GET IT.
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
please read the article carefully and draw your own conclusion.
please read the article carefully and draw your own conclusion.
Sankofa 10 years ago
Kwame Koramoah, do not try to judge a case from a distance.
Elections are won at the ballot box, not at the SC.
Does it make sense to you, that the petitioners are asking for 4 million of their fellow countrymen to be d ... read full comment
Kwame Koramoah, do not try to judge a case from a distance.
Elections are won at the ballot box, not at the SC.
Does it make sense to you, that the petitioners are asking for 4 million of their fellow countrymen to be disenfranchised so as to hand the presidency to Nana Addo?
Do you realise that the credibility of the EC would be severely damaged were the wishes of the petitioners to be granted? Do you realise what effect this woukld have on the electorate? Why should people bother to go to the trouble to register to vote, and then vote sometimes travelling long distances to queue in the burning sunshine for hours on end, only for a court to annul their votes? Would you take this lightly if you were so disenfranchised through no fault of yours?
Remember the judges live in Ghana, and understand the ordinary Ghanaian. You are living far away, and have no business pontificating to us from your comfort zone.
Kalira 10 years ago
Oh npp stop deceving your souls
Oh npp stop deceving your souls
Daniel Kwadwo Bimpeh 10 years ago
The evidences before the suprem court vindicate Nana Addo. The NDC and Afarigyan have not been able to defend the evidences. Nana is the clare winner but, dont be suprised here that, the court may anulled and void of the elec ... read full comment
The evidences before the suprem court vindicate Nana Addo. The NDC and Afarigyan have not been able to defend the evidences. Nana is the clare winner but, dont be suprised here that, the court may anulled and void of the election by calling for a re-run. But, i want u to know that, any way in which the court put the case will see Nana going through.
Kalira 10 years ago
Oh npp
Oh npp
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
Please let us be decorous to each other
Please let us be decorous to each other
Kalira 10 years ago
Thank you
Thank you
Kalira 10 years ago
No evidence riggin, fraud, vote paddin.
No evidence riggin, fraud, vote paddin.
oh kiddo 10 years ago
To start with Kwame, I like columnist who cone back to read response. On the surface, a voter was to vote after verification, a presiding officer was to sign, these have been provided in the constitution or other statutes. Sa ... read full comment
To start with Kwame, I like columnist who cone back to read response. On the surface, a voter was to vote after verification, a presiding officer was to sign, these have been provided in the constitution or other statutes. Same serial number is an invention because in the words of Bawumia, they realized when using a computer.
It is the weakest link because it's not backed by any statute, nothing what so ever. What you can do to convince readership is to provide us with legal provisions for a serial number on a pink sheet.
emefa 10 years ago
be wise, duplicate and triplicate serial numbers without presiding officers signature meant that any f.o.o.l can fill a pink sheet and throw it into the lots without being detected.
The petitioner's said over and over again ... read full comment
be wise, duplicate and triplicate serial numbers without presiding officers signature meant that any f.o.o.l can fill a pink sheet and throw it into the lots without being detected.
The petitioner's said over and over again that the duplicate serial numbers was the vehicle used in perpetuating this illegalities.
furthermore, the EC could not define over voting and had to be pushed hard to concur to basic definitions.
oh kiddo 10 years ago
We are talking about duplicate serial numbers. The commission said indeed they were numbers but they don't attach importance to it. It said those numbers were embossed by the printing presses not the EC
We are talking about duplicate serial numbers. The commission said indeed they were numbers but they don't attach importance to it. It said those numbers were embossed by the printing presses not the EC
kojo 10 years ago
The Supreme Court deals with the interpretation of the law but not feelings. It is the weakest link because it's not backed by any statute, nothing what so ever. What you can do to convince readership is to provide us with le ... read full comment
The Supreme Court deals with the interpretation of the law but not feelings. It is the weakest link because it's not backed by any statute, nothing what so ever. What you can do to convince readership is to provide us with legal provisions for a serial number on a pink sheet.
keen observer 10 years ago
Which doubt? Even when the presiding offers, part agents, and the general public have agreed to the results? Come again for i don't get it!
Which doubt? Even when the presiding offers, part agents, and the general public have agreed to the results? Come again for i don't get it!
canada 10 years ago
Kwame you have hit the nail at the head.People like you with knowledge are the ones Ghana needs. Rules are Rules. If you listen carefully to this case then you do not need to be a rocket scientist to know the EC had bad inten ... read full comment
Kwame you have hit the nail at the head.People like you with knowledge are the ones Ghana needs. Rules are Rules. If you listen carefully to this case then you do not need to be a rocket scientist to know the EC had bad intentions to ultter the results of the elections from the get go. Thanks for explaining this to all Ghanains expecially NDC members
bongo 10 years ago
hahahaah this is interesting, in my opinion the case exposed the loopholes in EC electioneering and this affect both ndc and npp. if there is evidence that votes were padded or subtracted from one candidate to the other. or t ... read full comment
hahahaah this is interesting, in my opinion the case exposed the loopholes in EC electioneering and this affect both ndc and npp. if there is evidence that votes were padded or subtracted from one candidate to the other. or there are evidence that pink sheets with duplicate serial numbers that wasnt of the ec, then the ec wronglfully declare mahama as president but as it stands there are irregularities and omissions but these irregulaties etc havent affected the results declared by ec
Petusaum 10 years ago
Can you pls explain how in using duplicate etc., serial numbers to rig the election, signatures of all the party agents would be acquired again, even if the EC managed to have all the presiding officers at these numerous poll ... read full comment
Can you pls explain how in using duplicate etc., serial numbers to rig the election, signatures of all the party agents would be acquired again, even if the EC managed to have all the presiding officers at these numerous polling stations to re-sign the duplicated etc. sheets.
Would there not be copies of the pink sheets given to the party agents in the first instance with which we could compare the "changed results and signatures"
BOY KOFI 10 years ago
The EC have said and proven that they do not use serial numbers on the pink sheets to identify polling stations.They don't use serial numbers on the pink sheets to declare results.As a matter of fact,they don't use it to cond ... read full comment
The EC have said and proven that they do not use serial numbers on the pink sheets to identify polling stations.They don't use serial numbers on the pink sheets to declare results.As a matter of fact,they don't use it to conduct élections at all.The previous élections have shown that the EC uses names and codes to identify every polling station,that is why it's unique.That is the reason why Dr Afari Gyan says this is the most hopeless claim by the petitioners.Have the petitioners proved that serial numbers are used in declaring results?By the way,why did the petitioners not file petition for fraud and rigging as they told us and went in for irregularities?We did not see the petitioners alleging any fraud case or vote padding in court,why?Let the judges decide whether there was fraud or rigging?If indeed there is no fraud,then the élections was free and fair as endorsed by the Local and International Community.Thank you.
Speedy Gonzalez 10 years ago
Kwame your political leaning is crystal clear,you failed to mention the fake documents presented by Dr.Bawumia at the supreme court.Irregularities on behalf of the petitioner who could not verify his affidavit documents,i am ... read full comment
Kwame your political leaning is crystal clear,you failed to mention the fake documents presented by Dr.Bawumia at the supreme court.Irregularities on behalf of the petitioner who could not verify his affidavit documents,i am highly disappointed in Kwame Adofo who is supposed to know better.
Yoofi Bannerman 10 years ago
Adofo,is it tribalism that influence your intellectual reasoning or your love for the NPP?.This is a party historically known to petition any decision that does not favor them,from the Independence era to the construction of ... read full comment
Adofo,is it tribalism that influence your intellectual reasoning or your love for the NPP?.This is a party historically known to petition any decision that does not favor them,from the Independence era to the construction of the Akosombo dam.Now the sons are continuing where their fathers left off.Although Kwame has a reasonable knowledge of the law,he applies it wrongly like your typical Ashanti man,very tribal and uncompromising.It is clear that NPP has no case and i would be proved right next Thursday.Kwame you are dishonest and very economical with the truth.Go through the petitioners case thoroughly as presented by Mr."you and i were not there Bawumia.
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
I like it when you criticise my intellectual curiosity, however I do not think it is necessary for us not to be decorous to each other. So please tell me I am wrong in law and let us leave the insults out.
I like it when you criticise my intellectual curiosity, however I do not think it is necessary for us not to be decorous to each other. So please tell me I am wrong in law and let us leave the insults out.
Yoofi Bannerman 10 years ago
I did not mean to insult you,you just disappointed me in your reasoning.You could have done better to get the balance right.You must however admit that you were not neutral as you would like me to believe.
I did not mean to insult you,you just disappointed me in your reasoning.You could have done better to get the balance right.You must however admit that you were not neutral as you would like me to believe.
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
Thank you. Now can you find a way to answer the issues raised? You see the law only requires the petitioners to provide evidence of an irregularity. Once that is done, the onus shifts to the respondents to prove that the irre ... read full comment
Thank you. Now can you find a way to answer the issues raised? You see the law only requires the petitioners to provide evidence of an irregularity. Once that is done, the onus shifts to the respondents to prove that the irregularity as proved by the petitioner did not affect the petitioner as far as losing the election is concerned. How do you sustain the argument given what we saw (the evidence)objectively?
kwasi Ntiamoah 10 years ago
Lawyer Adofo can you explain how the serial numbers on the pink caused the loss of Akuffo Addo. Did it add any figures to Mahamas total votes or did it reduced that of Akuffo Addo.
Lawyer Adofo can you explain how the serial numbers on the pink caused the loss of Akuffo Addo. Did it add any figures to Mahamas total votes or did it reduced that of Akuffo Addo.
Sankofa 10 years ago
Kwame, what irregularity and what evidence?
Hpw many pink sheets were submitted? why did the NPP not raise any issues at te polling stations and before the results were declared? Why rely on pink sheets alone, and falsify ... read full comment
Kwame, what irregularity and what evidence?
Hpw many pink sheets were submitted? why did the NPP not raise any issues at te polling stations and before the results were declared? Why rely on pink sheets alone, and falsify evidence? How can Nana Addo seek to disenfranchise 4 million Ghanaians so as to become president, when he won in only 2 out of 10 regions?
Please enjoy yourself in Australia and stop disturbing us.
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
I must state categorically clear that I do not have any political leanings. I just stand for the law when I am in doubt. I did not state which party will win. Please read the article again and you would find that I merely rai ... read full comment
I must state categorically clear that I do not have any political leanings. I just stand for the law when I am in doubt. I did not state which party will win. Please read the article again and you would find that I merely raised the sticking issues for the court and left you to draw the conclusion.
Yoofi Bannerman 10 years ago
One does not need to be rocket scientist to know which part you belong.Your interpretation of the law indicates you are on the side of the petitioners.The petitioners have a weak case,their main aim is to make the country ung ... read full comment
One does not need to be rocket scientist to know which part you belong.Your interpretation of the law indicates you are on the side of the petitioners.The petitioners have a weak case,their main aim is to make the country ungovernable as it is in their DNA.Please stop the earbashing.
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
Please let us not be emotional about this case before the supreme court. At the end of the day I believe we all want what is good for our country. This is what I believe is the correct interpretation of the law. If you believ ... read full comment
Please let us not be emotional about this case before the supreme court. At the end of the day I believe we all want what is good for our country. This is what I believe is the correct interpretation of the law. If you believe I am wrong, that is fine. This is the market place of ideas and I welcome the way you see it without the anger as is routinely displayed in our politics.
Kwobia,Toronto 10 years ago
This article is too partisan.Another NPP mouthpiece.
This article is too partisan.Another NPP mouthpiece.
Okonko Palm 10 years ago
The weakest link is indeed the serial numbers because it has no probative value.The evidence was that it was randomly generated by the publishers who were independent of the EC.More importantly the printing came from two prin ... read full comment
The weakest link is indeed the serial numbers because it has no probative value.The evidence was that it was randomly generated by the publishers who were independent of the EC.More importantly the printing came from two print houses.Anything more than two must be wrog as the whole petitioners case was made up of mostly mistakes from generating their copies from their printers.
The most important case law on election disputes is the Canadian case which specifically sates that the mistakes of election officials can not be visited on voters especially when it has no bearing on the results.This was extensively quoted by respondents so please go back and read it.
There are two contesting claims by the parties to the petition.That is in respect to the value of the mistakes made.Were they deliberate or were just mere mistakes and if so who bears the responsibility.Is it the voter or the official?
There are two words in contention here "irregularity" and "error".The classic definition of irregularity is intentional misstatement whilst error is defined as unintentional misstatement.The question therefore is under which of these categories do you place these mistakes.
From the evidence, the petitioners were unable to link those clerical and administrative mistakes to any deliberate act.At best what came out were errors from half baked literates with little functional literacy.The Canadian case referred to these officials as temporal officials whose experience are limited and therefore bound to make mistakes.
Errors by law are not punishable unless you can attribute ill motives designed to intentionally hide a fact.Apart from you stating the facts on the contesting issues in law and how you think the court could arrive at its decision,your conclusion was wrong.
The others like NVNV and some of the contesting claims are best left to the SC judges.
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
Thank you, at least we agree that at the end of the day it will be a matter for the judges. But remember that if a public officer refuses to do his duty as required by law, then it does not matter that any resulting applicati ... read full comment
Thank you, at least we agree that at the end of the day it will be a matter for the judges. But remember that if a public officer refuses to do his duty as required by law, then it does not matter that any resulting application of the law will have the effect of punishing the voter, a judge must follow and apply the law, unless it is clearly wrong. I am not quite sure if your argument is supported by the Canadian case which I have also read.
Okonko Palm 10 years ago
I am not quiet sure what you said about public officers who are dealt with under administrative law.When a public officers fails to do his or her job you can compelled he/her under mandamus to comply or face contempt of court ... read full comment
I am not quiet sure what you said about public officers who are dealt with under administrative law.When a public officers fails to do his or her job you can compelled he/her under mandamus to comply or face contempt of court.But you can not visit the mistake of the public official on the voter especially when one is a duty and the other a fundamental right.
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
Thank you. Mandamus is one of the writs that one might seek. But the correct approach is to seek to have the decision quash by way of writ of certiorari. This is what I think the NPP is seeking to do.
Thank you. Mandamus is one of the writs that one might seek. But the correct approach is to seek to have the decision quash by way of writ of certiorari. This is what I think the NPP is seeking to do.
Okonko Palm 10 years ago
Certiorari can only affect an administrative decision.In this case the ec has the mandate from the constitution to declare results as it deems fit according to the facts and that is exactly what happened.But that declaration ... read full comment
Certiorari can only affect an administrative decision.In this case the ec has the mandate from the constitution to declare results as it deems fit according to the facts and that is exactly what happened.But that declaration can not affect the votes because casting of the votes is not an administrative decision but a constitutional right.
Again it must be emphasized that unless the decision of the administrative body or official is Wenesbury unreasonable it can hardly be quashed by certiorari.Wenesbury unreasonableness is defined as a decision so unreasonable that nobody in his rightful mind will come to that conclusion.The bar is very high to overcome.
CALDOFF 10 years ago
THE WRITTER IS A DISGRACE TO LAWYERS . WHAT A POROUS PRESENTATION OF FACTS BY USELESS LAWYER
THE WRITTER IS A DISGRACE TO LAWYERS . WHAT A POROUS PRESENTATION OF FACTS BY USELESS LAWYER
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
Again another insult. Is this necessary? If think I am wrong just say so and support your arguments with a sound legal position.
Again another insult. Is this necessary? If think I am wrong just say so and support your arguments with a sound legal position.
Steve 10 years ago
For your information, I’m not a lawyer but an ordinary Ghanaian voter. I don’t hold any university degree but this is how I see it.
You and I stand in line for several hours to vote at different polling stations with un ... read full comment
For your information, I’m not a lawyer but an ordinary Ghanaian voter. I don’t hold any university degree but this is how I see it.
You and I stand in line for several hours to vote at different polling stations with unique names and code numbers. The votes are counted in public at 26002 polling stations nation- wide and the results are announced and accepted without protest. We also ensure that figures announced on radio is the same as the results obtained at our polling stations. Now, because you and I’s polling station results declaration forms (pink sheets) have the same serial number, our results should be nullified. Nullified because Nana Addo has to be president. Have a good day.
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
Well, what should be the results of any consequential orders is a matter for the court. But remember that where a public officer either recklessly or negligently refuse to do his duty, he has to be held to account, otherwise ... read full comment
Well, what should be the results of any consequential orders is a matter for the court. But remember that where a public officer either recklessly or negligently refuse to do his duty, he has to be held to account, otherwise our society will never move forward.
Sankofa 10 years ago
Kwame, so how do you hold a reckless or negligent public officer to account, and why should that affect the vote of innocent Ghanaians, as per Steve's posting?
Kwame, so how do you hold a reckless or negligent public officer to account, and why should that affect the vote of innocent Ghanaians, as per Steve's posting?
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
You see this is the problem. It is not easy to determine which is a genuine mistake, and which is not. So the law being a blunt instrument is not amenable to feelings. Where it is proved that the law was broken (eg, failure o ... read full comment
You see this is the problem. It is not easy to determine which is a genuine mistake, and which is not. So the law being a blunt instrument is not amenable to feelings. Where it is proved that the law was broken (eg, failure of a Presiding officer to sign), then it does not matter what the effect may be. The law must apply. Meaning the breach of the law must be remedied by any consequential orders that the court see fit. Otherwise people will always get away by refusing to do their public duty.
Sankofa 10 years ago
So you agree that you punish the offender not the voter who has committed no offence.
This is why we see no reason for cancellation of the ballot. As Tsatsu put it, it would amount to retroactive punishment of the voter.
So you agree that you punish the offender not the voter who has committed no offence.
This is why we see no reason for cancellation of the ballot. As Tsatsu put it, it would amount to retroactive punishment of the voter.
Togbe 10 years ago
We must not only be interested in votes being counted publicly, but also, whether or not such votes were cast according to law. Otherwise, there will be no point making regulations for the conduct of elections. We would rathe ... read full comment
We must not only be interested in votes being counted publicly, but also, whether or not such votes were cast according to law. Otherwise, there will be no point making regulations for the conduct of elections. We would rather have formed up, and cast our votes on election day, the only form of qualification being the production of an identity document showing Ghanaian citizenship, and of age 18 and above.The issue is not simply, votes cast and counted openly. Those making such reasoning are insincere.
Bawumia 10 years ago
NPP had polling agents at all the 26,002 polling stations. Did anyone filled the complaint form that voting were not cast according to law?
NPP don't be sore losers.
NPP had polling agents at all the 26,002 polling stations. Did anyone filled the complaint form that voting were not cast according to law?
NPP don't be sore losers.
Yaw Berfi 10 years ago
I will respectfully disagree the author n his assertion that NPP has proved the case of irregularities. In my opinion all that the petitioners have succeeded in doing is their allegation of irregularities ON THE FACE OF THE P ... read full comment
I will respectfully disagree the author n his assertion that NPP has proved the case of irregularities. In my opinion all that the petitioners have succeeded in doing is their allegation of irregularities ON THE FACE OF THE PINK SHEETS. For the NPP to have proved their allegations they needed to prove that at the polling stations where elections were held in the full view of the public people voted who were not supposed to vote, that someone voted more than once, that SOMEBODVOTED WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION. Constitutionally the polling agents were to authenticate that the elections at the polling stations were organized according to the prescribed rules and REGULATIONS and NOT IR(REGULATIONS) as Dr. Bawumiah will have us believe. NO. The exalted or glorified agents as he called them, had a constitutional duty to watch out for those IRREGULARITIES and report them on prescribed forms. Now according to the constitution they sign to the validity of the votes tally, the fact that the elections at that station were held according to the prescribed rules. In any other scenario, they exalted as they were, were to refuse to append their signature in exchange for AN IRREGULARITY FORM which they were to fill out and sign. Now even signing the IRREGUARITY FORM in itself does NOT INVALIDATE the results as declared at the polling station. It will have to be investigated. So back to the author's assertion that the NPP have proved their case of irregularity. WITH WHAT EVIDENCE? Their agents did not sign to attest to irregularity as shown earlier. Their prima facie evidence has been proved to be infested with errors, even down to the index of their final address. They have changed (amended)their case or petition even till their closing address (UNSURE OF WHICH POLLING STATIONS, WHICH ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES AND THE TOTAL NO. OF POLLING STATIONS) Don't forget they SWORE an affidavit to the effect that 11,842 polling stations were affected by infractions. That is their case before the honorable judges. Under oath Dr. Bawumiah testified that all of these stations were used once in their analysis. WHERE IS THAT CASE? DID THEY PROVE THAT CASE BEFORE THE COURT? Is there now a third amended petition seeking to annul votes of 10,199 polling stations. Now Mr. Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia if I could get answers to these few questions please, I will be happy.
This writer is an exalted engineer in Bukom.
kwame koramoah 10 years ago
I am not sure you I said I speak for the NPP. I do not belong to them neither have I ever voted for the NPP so I cannot answer for them. I only expressed my view of the law and I am happy you stated that you disagree. This is ... read full comment
I am not sure you I said I speak for the NPP. I do not belong to them neither have I ever voted for the NPP so I cannot answer for them. I only expressed my view of the law and I am happy you stated that you disagree. This is the market place of ideas and I like your view on the issue.
Yaw Berfi 10 years ago
I am very glad we can have an educated debate on this issue with you unlike other writers who don't even bother to respond to their own articles.
I am also not sure in any part of my discourse I alleged that that you were s ... read full comment
I am very glad we can have an educated debate on this issue with you unlike other writers who don't even bother to respond to their own articles.
I am also not sure in any part of my discourse I alleged that that you were speaking for them or even voted for the NPP. I also haven't even voted for any party in Ghana in my adult life, but that is besides the point. My issue with your article is that you seek to wrongfully (in my opinion) conclude that the NPP has discharged their burden of proof in their case before the court (which as we know it to be is the SECOND AMMENDED PETITION) I am suggesting to you ( to borrow your jargons) that you have erred in your assertion based on the substance of your article
and I have put forward some questions, answers to which will debunk my views or affirm same. Now what you have sought to do is to duct these questions and tried to change the topic. And respectfully, liking my views doesn't make them authentic. I wish to be educated on these issues from my learned friend.
BOY KOFI 10 years ago
The petitioners have nowhere proved their case in court,they only yap in public.The Npp said the élections was fraud,rigged and Nana Addo's votes were padded for Mahama.On the contrary,when the petitioners went to file their ... read full comment
The petitioners have nowhere proved their case in court,they only yap in public.The Npp said the élections was fraud,rigged and Nana Addo's votes were padded for Mahama.On the contrary,when the petitioners went to file their petition they did not say anything about,fraud,rigging and vote padding,why?This is a clear display of dishonesty.Thank you.
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
Yaw, you see in the jurisprudence around, it appears that ALL the petitioners had to do was to show an "irregularity". Once that is done, they have discharged their burden. The burden then shifts to the respondents to also pr ... read full comment
Yaw, you see in the jurisprudence around, it appears that ALL the petitioners had to do was to show an "irregularity". Once that is done, they have discharged their burden. The burden then shifts to the respondents to also prove that the "irregularity" did not affect the petitioner. So given what you saw during the trial, do you think they discharged their burdens?
Sankofa 10 years ago
Kwame, please address the specific issues Yaw Berfi raises. He says clearly that the petitioners did not discharge their burden of proof by raising 'irregularities' using the pink sheets only. Surely this is pure common sense ... read full comment
Kwame, please address the specific issues Yaw Berfi raises. He says clearly that the petitioners did not discharge their burden of proof by raising 'irregularities' using the pink sheets only. Surely this is pure common sense.
No wonder Asiedu Nketia made the famous assertion that any idiot can go to court.
If you cannot deal with the issues, don't waste our time.
Yaw Berfi 10 years ago
Kwame, in my opinion the petitioners needed TO PROVE that there was an irregularity, not to show errors ON THE FACE OF THE PINK SHEET. What they attempted to do is the later, and even in trying to do they could not satisfy he ... read full comment
Kwame, in my opinion the petitioners needed TO PROVE that there was an irregularity, not to show errors ON THE FACE OF THE PINK SHEET. What they attempted to do is the later, and even in trying to do they could not satisfy he law of equity, because they were caught doing worse than what they accused the 2nd Respondent of doing. ie. multiplicate exhibit numbers for same polling station, changing figures on pink sheets, unnumbered pink sheets, unfounded allegations of padding of votes, transmonification by STL. So I am still not convinced the petitioners discharged that burden of PROOF. And as has been pointed out by 3rd Respondent, even the basic evidential proof was not discharged let alone the BURDEN OF PROOF. So I believe the respondents did a good job in attacking so called water-tight evidence of petitioners, so much so that there was little to do about the second part of the case as set forth by the Supreme Court ie to show whether (if there were any irregularities at all) it did affect the results as declared by Chairman of 2nd respondent. Having said that I will agree with you that on the case mission/ statutory violation, some presiding failed to do their constitutional duty, but I find more sense in the arguments of 3rd respondent that voters who woke up and stood in lines for long hours should not be denied their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to have their votes count as against failure to perform a CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY of one presiding officer. It will be the battle between the RIGHT TO VOTE OF citizenS vrs the DUTY TO SIGN by ONE presiding officer. And again I agree with you that this is to be left to Judges to decide. Thank you Kwame it has been nice debating you. I will try and send you an email so we can have more such debates if you promise to repond to my emails.
Nana Yaw Yeboah Asare 10 years ago
Kwame, I must say that however flawed if truly, the content of your article may be seen by readers, you have succeeded in achieving one thing by your style of following up on comments.
By sheer dint of your coming back to ... read full comment
Kwame, I must say that however flawed if truly, the content of your article may be seen by readers, you have succeeded in achieving one thing by your style of following up on comments.
By sheer dint of your coming back to respond to commentators with suggestions, rebuttals and so forth, many an insulting and empty comments is reduced.
If all columnists would emulate.......
Fr 10 years ago
THE ADOFOs ARE ONLY GOOD AT VIEWING THINGS THROUGH NPP LENSES. DR AFARI-GYAN SAID THAT HE EVEN ASKED PRESIDING OFFICERS NOT TO RECORD VERIFICATION FIGURES ON THE PINK SHEETS BUT ANOTHER FORM BCOS THE SPACE PROVIDED FOR THAT W ... read full comment
THE ADOFOs ARE ONLY GOOD AT VIEWING THINGS THROUGH NPP LENSES. DR AFARI-GYAN SAID THAT HE EVEN ASKED PRESIDING OFFICERS NOT TO RECORD VERIFICATION FIGURES ON THE PINK SHEETS BUT ANOTHER FORM BCOS THE SPACE PROVIDED FOR THAT WAS MISLEADING. ALSO, HOW DID DUPLICATE SERIAL NUMBERS AFFECT THE RESULTS WHEN NPP AGENTS SIGNED EACH OF THE RESULTS DECLARED? WERE THE PETITIONERS ABLE TO PROVE THAT ANY RESULT WAS CHANGED? OR THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POLLING STATIONS EXCEEDED 26002? THE ISSUE OF RETURNING OFFICERS NOT SIGNING THE PINK SHEET IS INDEED THE MOST LAUGHABLE BCOS THE CONSTITUTION DID NOT SAY THAT VOTES THEREIN SHOULD BE ANNULLED. MORESO WHEN POLLING AGENTS DULLY SIGNED AS REQUIRED BY THE SAME CONSTITUTION. NPP HAS NO CASE AND 29TH IS ALMOST HERE FOR THEIR DISINTEGRATION.
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
Do you suggest that I change my name because somebody is also called Adofo? Please let us treat each other with some respect.
Do you suggest that I change my name because somebody is also called Adofo? Please let us treat each other with some respect.
Samuel 10 years ago
Question is "is it regular to have duplicate, triplicate and quardruplicate sheets in an election. the petitioners had the duty to prove that indeed there were irregularities, and they have succeeded in dicharging that duty. ... read full comment
Question is "is it regular to have duplicate, triplicate and quardruplicate sheets in an election. the petitioners had the duty to prove that indeed there were irregularities, and they have succeeded in dicharging that duty. period. the next task is whether these irregularities affected the result. But the petitioners are praying the courts to annull over 3.5
million votes. so whether these are enough to affect the result or not will be the verdict of the the sc judges. Good day!!!
Yaw Berfi 10 years ago
To answer your I will also pose a question. Where in the REGULATIONS was so called SERIAL NUMBER of pink sheets mention?
The is no such law, regulation or rule. And the EC contends that what those numbers are not serial numb ... read full comment
To answer your I will also pose a question. Where in the REGULATIONS was so called SERIAL NUMBER of pink sheets mention?
The is no such law, regulation or rule. And the EC contends that what those numbers are not serial numbers so.... There can only be an irregularity when there is regulation. That is why the issue of duplicate serial numbers is the weakest.
And by the way, Samuel their case is not to annul 3.5 million votes as their final address will have believe. Their petition as it stands is to annul 4.5 million votes. At these late stage of the game they should not seek to change (AMMEND) their case!
k.k akuoku 10 years ago
obviously it is not an ind3ependent submission...purely bias
obviously it is not an ind3ependent submission...purely bias
Sankofa 10 years ago
Kwame Adofo Koramoah, how many pink sheets were submitted in evidence by the petitioners?
How do the petitioners account for the discrepancies in the pink sheets submitted to the registry, presiding judge and the responden ... read full comment
Kwame Adofo Koramoah, how many pink sheets were submitted in evidence by the petitioners?
How do the petitioners account for the discrepancies in the pink sheets submitted to the registry, presiding judge and the respondents? What do you understand by prima facie?
How do you expect the judges to set aside 4 million votes to enable Nana Addo become president through the back door?
Enjoy your Aussie dollars as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, and stop telling our judges what to do.
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
Please read the article again and you would find the issues to be determined. The number of pink sheets etc, is a matter for the judges to determine. The only objective of the article was to highlight the issues and their cor ... read full comment
Please read the article again and you would find the issues to be determined. The number of pink sheets etc, is a matter for the judges to determine. The only objective of the article was to highlight the issues and their corresponding burden of proof (in law) and whether they have been discharged. Please take the time read the article again and see if you can debase it with your own sound legal reasoning.
Sankofa 10 years ago
Kwame, since you want to set out what our judges should do, you must address the issues I have raised.
You should know that the burden of proof lies with the petitioners. If their primary evidence is flawed, why should the ... read full comment
Kwame, since you want to set out what our judges should do, you must address the issues I have raised.
You should know that the burden of proof lies with the petitioners. If their primary evidence is flawed, why should the petition be entertained? why should the judges annul 4 million votes on the basis of such flawed evidence? Is that right in law? Is that sensible?
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
The judges in performing their duty is not limited only to the issues raised by the petitioners. They have a duty to go beyond the usual adversarial way into a more inquisitorial type of enquiry. If the petitioners raised "A" ... read full comment
The judges in performing their duty is not limited only to the issues raised by the petitioners. They have a duty to go beyond the usual adversarial way into a more inquisitorial type of enquiry. If the petitioners raised "A" as the irregularity but the judges find "B", then they are bound to apply the law to "B" eventhough "B" was not even part of the allegation before it.
Sankofa 10 years ago
So it means the judges have to be holistic their deliberations on the case.
So they have to consider the selectivity of the evidence. They have to weigh the constitutional right of the voters against the personal ambitions ... read full comment
So it means the judges have to be holistic their deliberations on the case.
So they have to consider the selectivity of the evidence. They have to weigh the constitutional right of the voters against the personal ambitions of Nana Addo, which is not enshrined in law.
They have to take into account the fact that NPP and its agents did not raise complaints at the polls, and when invited to bring forward any complaints before the declaration produced partial evidence which was dismissed by the EC.
The EC is the only body mandated by he constitution to hold elections in Ghana and declare results. The SC upholds and interpretes the law, the highest law being the constitution.
The SC would not render any judgement which would disenfranchise voters and undermine confidence in the EC, as this would not be constitutional and would have damaging consequences for our country.
Speedy Gonzalez 10 years ago
Your attempt to be neutral is unnecessary.There is no need to be so defensive,trying to prove yourself right from the numerous onslaught is an indication of your political leaning.Those of us who have read your piece,quickl ... read full comment
Your attempt to be neutral is unnecessary.There is no need to be so defensive,trying to prove yourself right from the numerous onslaught is an indication of your political leaning.Those of us who have read your piece,quickly comes to the conclusion that you for the petitioners.As much as you try to cover yourself from the NPP,your footprint is all over the place.
Kwame Koramoah 10 years ago
At least you have my view. It may be wrong but that is the way I see it. So, if I do have political leanings, would that change my understanding of the law as I see it? is that what you are suggesting?
At least you have my view. It may be wrong but that is the way I see it. So, if I do have political leanings, would that change my understanding of the law as I see it? is that what you are suggesting?
Citizen Kudjo. 10 years ago
Were de petitioners able to prove how two pink sheets bearing de results of two different polling stations,affect de results?
I totally agree that this is de weakest chain in an already weak case.
Isn't it troubling to hear ... read full comment
Were de petitioners able to prove how two pink sheets bearing de results of two different polling stations,affect de results?
I totally agree that this is de weakest chain in an already weak case.
Isn't it troubling to hear de so-called economic guru claiming a blank space is equivalent to a zero in order to prove over-voting?
Citizen Kudjo. 10 years ago
Since de petitioners are always talking abt laws,which article of de constitution or CI was violated with regards to duplicate serial numbers?
Simply a useless petition
Since de petitioners are always talking abt laws,which article of de constitution or CI was violated with regards to duplicate serial numbers?
Simply a useless petition
My dear lawyer, can you tell me how duplicated serial numbers on pink sheets affect valid votes counted in public view?
The problem with duplicate serial numbers is that it raises doubt whether any of the results is genuine. the court is concerned that the respondents have to prove that it did not affect the petitioners. That is all. If they w ...
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Kwame, reading from your article and especially, your response to keen observe, it appears to me that you did not follow the hearing. If you did, you would have been aware that, Dr Afari-Gyan explained that polling stations w ...
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"In other words, the serial numbers on pinks sheets did not serve any identification purpose."
So what was the purpose of printing duplicate,triplicate and quadruplicate result (pink) sheets for the same polling stations? ...
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Kobena, I only shared my view on one aspect of the petition hearing with regards to multiples of serial numbers. I also mentioned that if there were pink sheets with multiple serial numbers and the same polling station/s uniq ...
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Kofi,
This is the way we should discuss national issues, and I have always liked your style. Whatever the verdict in this petition, what has become very clear is that we need a very comprehensive reform of our Elecctoral sys ...
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Are you sure that the petitioners did not fabricate evidence to support their case?
There were several instances where Bawumia and Addison were forced to withdraw evidence through the vigilance of the respondents. There m ...
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How can EC use duplicated pink sheets for élections?Are these duplicates,triplicates pink sheets the products of photocopy machines or what?Are you telling me some polling stations did not use original pink sheets or you are ...
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You obviously do not understand what is at stake here. The duplicate, triplicate and quadruplicate pink sheets that the petitioners used in their exhibits were ALL carbon copies of originals that the EC used at certain polli ...
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Did I hear you say carbon copies used as pink sheets at some polling stations?This is the first time of hearing this blatant lies.Thank you.
So where do you think the NPP got the pink sheets from? Hmmmmm
It's just too bad.
Is it not possible that the NPP petitioners fabricated some of those pink sheets?
After all Bawumia and Addison were forced to withdraw some of the pink sheets and other evidence which were found to be false.
We ask the ...
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So how did this duplicate pink sheets which carried results of unique n identifiable polling stations affect de results?Polling stations r identified by polling station codes and polling station names but not serial numbers o ...
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Thank you, your point is well taken. I watched the hearing in it entirety, but I must admit that I still have issues in relation to his evidence that he printed only 2 sets of pink sheets, but it turns out there were 4 sets. ...
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If you accuse somebody of fraud and rigging the élections,you must prove it beyond doubt.We expected the petitioners to prove all their allégations beyond any shadow of doubt but they failed to do so miserably.The KPMG rubb ...
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Since nPP is grounded on law, which of the CIs says that a pink sheet with duplicate serial number contains annullable votes? If two pink sheets have the same serial number, isn't there any other way of differentiating them? ...
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laid down constitutional body procedures not followed by NPP.
administrative procedures from EC should have been followed for EC to rectify them before proceeding to court.
Ema, spot on.
This lengthy court case would have been avoided if the NPP polling agents had launched complaints at the polling stations, and NPP had launched complaints before the declaration of the results. NPP had ample ...
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Thus guy is incredible, upon all the explanation done here he is still asking how this affect the results!
Is he kidding us?
Yes, that is the irony of it all. He has one vote just like you!
NOT ON THE " FACE" OF PINK SHEETS. MR. LAWYER GET IT.
please read the article carefully and draw your own conclusion.
Kwame Koramoah, do not try to judge a case from a distance.
Elections are won at the ballot box, not at the SC.
Does it make sense to you, that the petitioners are asking for 4 million of their fellow countrymen to be d ...
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Oh npp stop deceving your souls
The evidences before the suprem court vindicate Nana Addo. The NDC and Afarigyan have not been able to defend the evidences. Nana is the clare winner but, dont be suprised here that, the court may anulled and void of the elec ...
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Oh npp
Please let us be decorous to each other
Thank you
No evidence riggin, fraud, vote paddin.
To start with Kwame, I like columnist who cone back to read response. On the surface, a voter was to vote after verification, a presiding officer was to sign, these have been provided in the constitution or other statutes. Sa ...
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be wise, duplicate and triplicate serial numbers without presiding officers signature meant that any f.o.o.l can fill a pink sheet and throw it into the lots without being detected.
The petitioner's said over and over again ...
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We are talking about duplicate serial numbers. The commission said indeed they were numbers but they don't attach importance to it. It said those numbers were embossed by the printing presses not the EC
The Supreme Court deals with the interpretation of the law but not feelings. It is the weakest link because it's not backed by any statute, nothing what so ever. What you can do to convince readership is to provide us with le ...
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Which doubt? Even when the presiding offers, part agents, and the general public have agreed to the results? Come again for i don't get it!
Kwame you have hit the nail at the head.People like you with knowledge are the ones Ghana needs. Rules are Rules. If you listen carefully to this case then you do not need to be a rocket scientist to know the EC had bad inten ...
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hahahaah this is interesting, in my opinion the case exposed the loopholes in EC electioneering and this affect both ndc and npp. if there is evidence that votes were padded or subtracted from one candidate to the other. or t ...
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Can you pls explain how in using duplicate etc., serial numbers to rig the election, signatures of all the party agents would be acquired again, even if the EC managed to have all the presiding officers at these numerous poll ...
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The EC have said and proven that they do not use serial numbers on the pink sheets to identify polling stations.They don't use serial numbers on the pink sheets to declare results.As a matter of fact,they don't use it to cond ...
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Kwame your political leaning is crystal clear,you failed to mention the fake documents presented by Dr.Bawumia at the supreme court.Irregularities on behalf of the petitioner who could not verify his affidavit documents,i am ...
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Adofo,is it tribalism that influence your intellectual reasoning or your love for the NPP?.This is a party historically known to petition any decision that does not favor them,from the Independence era to the construction of ...
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I like it when you criticise my intellectual curiosity, however I do not think it is necessary for us not to be decorous to each other. So please tell me I am wrong in law and let us leave the insults out.
I did not mean to insult you,you just disappointed me in your reasoning.You could have done better to get the balance right.You must however admit that you were not neutral as you would like me to believe.
Thank you. Now can you find a way to answer the issues raised? You see the law only requires the petitioners to provide evidence of an irregularity. Once that is done, the onus shifts to the respondents to prove that the irre ...
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Lawyer Adofo can you explain how the serial numbers on the pink caused the loss of Akuffo Addo. Did it add any figures to Mahamas total votes or did it reduced that of Akuffo Addo.
Kwame, what irregularity and what evidence?
Hpw many pink sheets were submitted? why did the NPP not raise any issues at te polling stations and before the results were declared? Why rely on pink sheets alone, and falsify ...
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I must state categorically clear that I do not have any political leanings. I just stand for the law when I am in doubt. I did not state which party will win. Please read the article again and you would find that I merely rai ...
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One does not need to be rocket scientist to know which part you belong.Your interpretation of the law indicates you are on the side of the petitioners.The petitioners have a weak case,their main aim is to make the country ung ...
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Please let us not be emotional about this case before the supreme court. At the end of the day I believe we all want what is good for our country. This is what I believe is the correct interpretation of the law. If you believ ...
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This article is too partisan.Another NPP mouthpiece.
The weakest link is indeed the serial numbers because it has no probative value.The evidence was that it was randomly generated by the publishers who were independent of the EC.More importantly the printing came from two prin ...
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Thank you, at least we agree that at the end of the day it will be a matter for the judges. But remember that if a public officer refuses to do his duty as required by law, then it does not matter that any resulting applicati ...
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I am not quiet sure what you said about public officers who are dealt with under administrative law.When a public officers fails to do his or her job you can compelled he/her under mandamus to comply or face contempt of court ...
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Thank you. Mandamus is one of the writs that one might seek. But the correct approach is to seek to have the decision quash by way of writ of certiorari. This is what I think the NPP is seeking to do.
Certiorari can only affect an administrative decision.In this case the ec has the mandate from the constitution to declare results as it deems fit according to the facts and that is exactly what happened.But that declaration ...
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THE WRITTER IS A DISGRACE TO LAWYERS . WHAT A POROUS PRESENTATION OF FACTS BY USELESS LAWYER
Again another insult. Is this necessary? If think I am wrong just say so and support your arguments with a sound legal position.
For your information, I’m not a lawyer but an ordinary Ghanaian voter. I don’t hold any university degree but this is how I see it.
You and I stand in line for several hours to vote at different polling stations with un ...
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Well, what should be the results of any consequential orders is a matter for the court. But remember that where a public officer either recklessly or negligently refuse to do his duty, he has to be held to account, otherwise ...
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Kwame, so how do you hold a reckless or negligent public officer to account, and why should that affect the vote of innocent Ghanaians, as per Steve's posting?
You see this is the problem. It is not easy to determine which is a genuine mistake, and which is not. So the law being a blunt instrument is not amenable to feelings. Where it is proved that the law was broken (eg, failure o ...
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So you agree that you punish the offender not the voter who has committed no offence.
This is why we see no reason for cancellation of the ballot. As Tsatsu put it, it would amount to retroactive punishment of the voter.
We must not only be interested in votes being counted publicly, but also, whether or not such votes were cast according to law. Otherwise, there will be no point making regulations for the conduct of elections. We would rathe ...
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NPP had polling agents at all the 26,002 polling stations. Did anyone filled the complaint form that voting were not cast according to law?
NPP don't be sore losers.
I will respectfully disagree the author n his assertion that NPP has proved the case of irregularities. In my opinion all that the petitioners have succeeded in doing is their allegation of irregularities ON THE FACE OF THE P ...
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I am not sure you I said I speak for the NPP. I do not belong to them neither have I ever voted for the NPP so I cannot answer for them. I only expressed my view of the law and I am happy you stated that you disagree. This is ...
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I am very glad we can have an educated debate on this issue with you unlike other writers who don't even bother to respond to their own articles.
I am also not sure in any part of my discourse I alleged that that you were s ...
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The petitioners have nowhere proved their case in court,they only yap in public.The Npp said the élections was fraud,rigged and Nana Addo's votes were padded for Mahama.On the contrary,when the petitioners went to file their ...
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Yaw, you see in the jurisprudence around, it appears that ALL the petitioners had to do was to show an "irregularity". Once that is done, they have discharged their burden. The burden then shifts to the respondents to also pr ...
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Kwame, please address the specific issues Yaw Berfi raises. He says clearly that the petitioners did not discharge their burden of proof by raising 'irregularities' using the pink sheets only. Surely this is pure common sense ...
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Kwame, in my opinion the petitioners needed TO PROVE that there was an irregularity, not to show errors ON THE FACE OF THE PINK SHEET. What they attempted to do is the later, and even in trying to do they could not satisfy he ...
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Kwame, I must say that however flawed if truly, the content of your article may be seen by readers, you have succeeded in achieving one thing by your style of following up on comments.
By sheer dint of your coming back to ...
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THE ADOFOs ARE ONLY GOOD AT VIEWING THINGS THROUGH NPP LENSES. DR AFARI-GYAN SAID THAT HE EVEN ASKED PRESIDING OFFICERS NOT TO RECORD VERIFICATION FIGURES ON THE PINK SHEETS BUT ANOTHER FORM BCOS THE SPACE PROVIDED FOR THAT W ...
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Do you suggest that I change my name because somebody is also called Adofo? Please let us treat each other with some respect.
Question is "is it regular to have duplicate, triplicate and quardruplicate sheets in an election. the petitioners had the duty to prove that indeed there were irregularities, and they have succeeded in dicharging that duty. ...
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To answer your I will also pose a question. Where in the REGULATIONS was so called SERIAL NUMBER of pink sheets mention?
The is no such law, regulation or rule. And the EC contends that what those numbers are not serial numb ...
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obviously it is not an ind3ependent submission...purely bias
Kwame Adofo Koramoah, how many pink sheets were submitted in evidence by the petitioners?
How do the petitioners account for the discrepancies in the pink sheets submitted to the registry, presiding judge and the responden ...
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Please read the article again and you would find the issues to be determined. The number of pink sheets etc, is a matter for the judges to determine. The only objective of the article was to highlight the issues and their cor ...
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Kwame, since you want to set out what our judges should do, you must address the issues I have raised.
You should know that the burden of proof lies with the petitioners. If their primary evidence is flawed, why should the ...
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The judges in performing their duty is not limited only to the issues raised by the petitioners. They have a duty to go beyond the usual adversarial way into a more inquisitorial type of enquiry. If the petitioners raised "A" ...
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So it means the judges have to be holistic their deliberations on the case.
So they have to consider the selectivity of the evidence. They have to weigh the constitutional right of the voters against the personal ambitions ...
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Your attempt to be neutral is unnecessary.There is no need to be so defensive,trying to prove yourself right from the numerous onslaught is an indication of your political leaning.Those of us who have read your piece,quickl ...
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At least you have my view. It may be wrong but that is the way I see it. So, if I do have political leanings, would that change my understanding of the law as I see it? is that what you are suggesting?
Were de petitioners able to prove how two pink sheets bearing de results of two different polling stations,affect de results?
I totally agree that this is de weakest chain in an already weak case.
Isn't it troubling to hear ...
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Since de petitioners are always talking abt laws,which article of de constitution or CI was violated with regards to duplicate serial numbers?
Simply a useless petition