The Lead Counsel for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2012 Election Petition, Mr. Philip Addison, has parried the assertion that he is too soft to withstand the intricacies in the country’s body politics.
Addison, who has announced his intention to contest for the Korle Klottey Constituency seat of the opposition NPP, says he is well aware of the nuances in Ghana’s political system, and is well prepared for the challenge ahead.
The astute Lawyer’s decision to enter the realm of mainstream politics came as a little bit of surprise to many, with some expressing doubts over his ability to withstand the complexities in politics, having been in active legal services for all these years.
But, Speaking on Kessben TV during an interview with Confidence Kwadwo Baah, on the station’s breakfast show dubbed “Adeakyebia”, Lawyer Addison deflated that assertion, pointing out that he had long been in active politics, and was very much aware of how things could play out, before making such decisions. “Many people think I am green in politics or what they call Dada Ba, but I am not,” he said.
Speaking on a wide range of issues, including the decision by the NPP to seek redress in court after the declaration of the 2012 election results, the astute legal practitioner said he had always been part of the country’s politics, particularly, in the Korle Klottey Constituency, revealing that he, together with colleagues like Frank Davids and Joe Ghartey, were the main pillars behind the success of the former NPP member of Parliament (MP), Nii Adu Daku Mantey, who occupied the seat from 2000 to 2004.
Lawyer Addison, however, expressed his regrets at what he said was an unfortunate outcome of the 2012 Election Petition, stressing that it was the most disappointing moment of his career.
OBFUSCATION OF “MANDATORY SHALL”
Whilst describing the ruling by the court as one of the most ridiculous outcomes, Lawyer Addison said he would be the last person in the legal profession to spend his time on such a case in the future, adding, “I would never step foot in court to defend such case again.”
“The ruling was very disappointing, and I don’t think I would ever waste my time ever again on such [a] legal battle. I will never encourage the party to ever embark on such move because of the 2012 ruling,” he noted, pointing out that his major worry was the deliberate distortion of the “mandatory shall” contained in the Constitution and Legislative Instrument.
The NPP parliamentary hopeful, however, called for a review of the Constitutional provision that allows presidents whose mandates are being challenged to continue to stay in power and make appointments.
“I think that in such cases, the President must step aside until [the] final determination of the case, because we cannot have a situation whereby a President who is being challenged still controls the public purse and decides how governance should run,” he emphasised.
He said it was unacceptable for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and their communicators to continue to accuse the NPP of being responsible for the economic woes as a result of the nine months legal tussle. Lawyer Addison, however, denied any rumpus with his legal antagonist, Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, who he had several confrontations with during the course of proceedings.
He further deflated the assertion that he was on a vengeance mission against the NDC administration, which was thought to have been responsible for the collapse of his father’s business in Takoradi during the 80s.
“I had no scores to settle with anyone; I was only doing my job as a professional lawyer and nothing,” he explained, adding, however, that he has responded to several pleas to him by constituents in Korle Klottey to take up the mantle of leadership, in order to assist the constituency.
