Election petition: There cannot be a different interpretation of the law just because it is Mahama - Tsatsu
- The Court dismissed John Mahama’s request to ask the EC 12 questions
- In a unanimous decision, the Court held that it had limited time to hear the case
- Mahama is however challenging the ruling, calling for a review
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Tsatsu Tsikata has told the nine-member Supreme Court panel hearing his client’s application for a review in the ongoing election petition trial that “there cannot be a different interpretation of the law just because it is John Mahama who filed the petition."
The Court dismissed the former president’s request to ask the commission 12 questions.
Source: Twitter
The court unanimously held that the petition hearing is time-bound, and that it cannot grant the application for interrogatories.
Mahama however, through his lawyers filed an application asking the apex court to review its decision, denying him the opportunity to ask the EC his 12 questions.
Arguing his client’s case on Thursday, January 28, 2021, before the Court, Tsikata said that the Court's decision to dismiss the application was “an error”, hence, it is necessary for the court to review its ruling.
He said granting the interrogatories will be critical in helping the Apex Court determine the authenticity of the results declared by the EC on December 9, 2020.
The judges however maintained they are strictly bound by C.I. 99, and therefore will not apply order 22 which is on interrogatories under the C.I. 47.
Tsikata then reacted that “there cannot be a different interpretation of the law just because it is Mr. Mahama that has filed the petition.”
But the judges explained that it is the C.I. that makes the difference, and not the individuals involved in the petition.
The Court earlier dismissed Mahama’s request to add additional ground for his application for review filed on January 20, 2021.
The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is challenging President Akufo-Addo’s victory in the December 2020 general elections.
According to him, there was no clear winner in the elections as declared by the EC.
Akufo-Addo defeated Mahama in the election to secure another four-year term; collecting 51.302% of the votes cast against the latter’s 47.359%.
The votes difference between the two candidates stood at 517, 231, representing a four percentage point, one of the highest since 1996.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
