Supreme Court dismisses Mahama 'moot' application to telecast election petition live
- John Mahama’s application for the 2020 election petition to be telecast live has been dismissed
- According to the apex court it had already decided to have the proceedings broadcasted live
- Meanwhile, Mahama’s request to amend his petition has been granted
- He has up to 4 pm to correct the error
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The Supreme Court on Thursday, January 14, 2021, threw out John Mahama’s application to have the 2020 election petition telecast live.
The seven-member panel of the court held that it had already decided to telecast the petition live and thus the request by the former president was “moot”, graphic.com.gh reported.
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According to the outlet, the crew from the state broadcaster, GBC, were already in the court to telecast the proceedings live as at the time Mahama’s lawyer, Tsatsu Tsikata made the application.
Meanwhile, the court granted Mahama’s request to amend some errors in his petition challenging the outcome of the 2020 presidential race.
In his petition, Mahama mistakenly asked the Court to order a rerun of the election between him and the Electoral Commission (EC) instead of President Nana Akufo-Addo.
In granting the motion for the amendment, the court held that the typographical errors sought to be corrected materially did not affect the substance of the case.
The former president has up to 4 pm, today, Thursday, January 14, 2021, to amend his petition at the court while Akufo-Addo and the EC were given up to Friday, January 15, 2021, to file their amended response.
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The case was adjourned to Tuesday, January 19, 2021, for a pre-trial to commence.
Akufo-Addo won the elections, according to the results, declared by the Electoral Commission (EC).
He collected 51.302% of the votes to defeat Mahama, who polled 43.359%.
The votes difference between the two candidates stood at 517, 231, representing a four percentage point, one of the highest since 1996.
On Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Mahama filed the petition to challenge the outcome, a decision he said was borne out of principle rather than an “insatiable desire for power.”
He wants a re-run of the elections between him and Akufo-Addo, claiming that there was no winner contrary to the EC declaration.
In other news, Andrew Asiamah Amoako officially said he will align with the NPP Caucus in Parliament.
The independent MP for Fomena made his association with the NPP formal in a letter to the Speaker, Alban Bagbin.
It comes on the back of endless debate and tension as to which side will form the majority in the eighth Parliament.
His declaration is expected to put an end to the fight over who occupies the majority side in the House.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
