Concerned Ghanaians for Justice-USA: Let Justice Reign!

We raised our voices high and praised the petitioners when they resolved to go to the Supreme Court of our nation to seek redress in the 2012 elections. By this approach, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Otanka Obestebi Lamptey who represent the first, second and third petitioners respectively, have exhibited commendable and high sense of nationalism and patriotism. An act that should never be forgotten by Ghanaians. Now, not only was this step praised by Ghanaians - both home and abroad - but by the international community as well. This is due to the fact that, many African countries have fallen from the pinnacles of glory to the dangling depts of the dungeon as a result of badly-handled electoral disputes. Kenya, Cote d' Ivore and Liberia are few to mention.

The legal banter which started in April, 2013, and has had John Dramani Mahama, The Electoral Commission, and the NDC as first, second and third respondants respectively, has proceeded close to six stressful months now. Not only that, it had been riddled with series events; expression of anger, humour, laughter, legal grandiloquence, contempt, big legal terminologies etc. It has really been an interesting proceedings that have sparked the interest of most youngsters to pursue law. The legal "star-boy" - Philip Addison - has been a huge inspiration!

As Concern Ghanaians for Justice in the USA (CGJ-USA), we could not isolate ourselves from the history in the making. In the early days of the case, we staged a peaceful procession at the White House in Washington D.C. This procession, which was organised in April 2013, drew the attention of the international community to the unprecedented petition that is before the Supreme Court of our land. At the end of it, we presented a fifteen-points petition to the White House, including other reputable international bodies like the UN, the AU, IMF, the Carter Center among others, as to why they have to turn their attention to Ghana. But most importantly, it was to rally support for the Supreme Court Justices sitting on the case. And this was necessitated by the "Murder Most Foul"; the historical, but bizzare murdering of the High Court Judges by PNDC, the root of the NDC.

Yes, our procession was to assure the Judges that not only do they have the backing of Ghanaians, but that of the international communities as well; so they should fear not in upholding justice and the rule of law. It was themed "Supreme Court Judges, Be Bold." It later served as a catalyst for a global political movement of Ghanaians abroad. Thus, the Washington D.C. procession was replicated in the UK, Germany and Italy.

When the Supreme Court announced that August 29, 2013 will be the day of judgement that will wrap-up and put to rest all these legal tussels, we were very elated. For we take inspiration from the fact that justice is going to served, and he whom the political power is due will be handed with to drive the the fortunes of our nation for the betterment of all.

It will be a great day; a day that will be written in gold on stones for generations yet unborn.

CJG-USA has therefore served invitation letters to the mainstream media in the USA; requesting them to come and witness the unique landmark case in our nation that has further put Africa on the spot. Giant television networks like the CNN, Foxnews, MSNBC, Aljazeera-America, C-SPAN, HLN have been invited, whiles authoritative print media like the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times Magazine, Boston Globe have not been left out. Gratefully, they have signaled their preparedness and readiness in delegating their representives to cover the August 29th judgement/proceedings of the Supreme Court.

The world will be watching!

For us living in the United States of America; a nation whose founding pillars are built on truth, and whose democracy and respect for the rule of law have been the benchmark for developing countries with infant democracy, we are imbued with with these principles to uphold the truth and justice in our homeland, Ghana.

Members of CGJ-USA, therefore, keenly followed the court proceedings from the onset. We listened attentively to the legal arguments, and critically perused through the addresses of both parties. At the end of it, we have arrived at a conviction that the preponderance of evidence that had been put foward by petitioners and articulatively and aptly defended by their lawyers and of which have exposed the violations and irregularities that characterized the 2012 elections can hardly be overlooked by the Justices of the Supreme Court on the judgement day.

However, the law lies in the bosom of the Justices to interprete and adjudicate justice. And we pray to them to let justice reign!

By:

Amponsah Stonash (New York)

Precious Ahiabenu (California)

Abdulai K. Samed (New Jersey)

Kwamena Baidoo (Ohio)

Alfred Lamptey (Texas)

Godwin Sefenu (Virginia)

Abdulai Sadiq (New York)

Kwaku Kyei (Washington D.C.)

(CONVENERS, CGJ-USA)