Addison denies inventory of pink sheet boxes

Lead counsel for the petitioners in the election petition hearing, Philip Addison has accused the third respondents' counsel of cooking up stories ostensibly to halt the auditing of pink sheet exhibits by KPMG.

Tsatsu Tsikata told the court they became aware of significant development on Monday in the “true and faithful” count of the pink sheets that was ordered by Justice Atuguba, President of the panel of Judges.

He said it emerged that a number of boxes of exhibits had been added to the number they knew were in the custody of the registry.

According to Mr Tsikata, as many as seven boxes were added. “It is serious”, he added.

But Mr Addison believes there is a “sinister agenda” to deprive petitioners of their case.

In Mr. Addison's view, that sinister agenda is the only explanation for this “strenuous” attempts by the respondents to disrupt the hearing.

According to Addison, the counting started well and although the Electoral Commission was expecting shortages, it found overages.

Mr Addison then proceeded to accuse the respondents of “cooking up stories”.

But Tony Lithur, Counsel for President Mahama, objected immediately to the allegation of “cooking up stories”.

Addison continued that they were not aware of any inventory-taking, saying “maybe they know more than we do since respondents meet with referee behind our back”.

According to Addison, respondents have been playing strange tactics with petitioners in order to deprive them of their case.

The court has, therefore, gone on recess to enable the judges to rule on the claims.