Lawyers should be trained on electoral laws â?? Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary of the ruling NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has proposed training for members of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) on the standard procedures of the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the 2016 general elections.

According to him, if lawyers are knowledgeable in the country’s electoral laws, needless election petitions like what is currently before the Supreme Court would be avoided.

Asiedu Nketia was reacting to the ongoing hearing of the presidential election petition before the Supreme Court.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is challenging the legitimacy of President John Mahama whom the EC pronounced the winner of the 2012 presidential election.

The NPP led by its flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo and two others, have cited massive irregularities in the elections and are praying the court to overturn the verdict of the EC.

President Mahama, EC and the NDC are in court, to defend the allegations leveled against them by the petitioners.

The presidential election petition is on day 29 and Chairman of the EC, Dr. Afari-Gyan, is being cross-examined by counsel for the petitioners, Philip Addison.

On Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Thursday, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the court case would have been avoided if counsel for the petitioners had prior knowledge about the electoral laws.

General Mosquito as he is popular called, noted that the NPP has no case, but only wants to make the country ungovernable for the president.

The NDC scribe suggested that lawyers together with a political party representative and presidential candidates, should be trained on the electoral guidelines, how complaints are lodged at the polling stations, role of polling agents, how pink sheets are filled and many others.

He said if lawyers are schooled on electoral procedures, they will be able to give good counsel to their clients who may want to challenge an election in court.

The NDC scribe said the petitioners by going to court have shot themselves in the foot.

General Mosquito appealed to the EC to consider his suggestion to save Ghana from setbacks.