General Secretary for the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketia seems to have feverishly prepared to mount the witness stand and give testimony in the on-going election petition suit challenging the legitimacy of President John Dramani Mahama and says he is anxiously awaiting his turn to face the legal team of the petitioners.
The Second Petitioner, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is currently being cross-examined by counsel for the First Respondent (President Mahama), Tony Lithur.
On Day 5 (Tuesday) of the hearing of the election petition currently before the Supreme Court, Lawyer Tony Lithur sought to discredit the testimony of Dr Bawumia by suggesting that the evidence submitted by the petitioners on over-voting were merely due to arithmetic and administrative errors.
When he is through with the witness, then counsel for the Second Respondent (EC), Lawyer James Quarshie-Idun will take his turn to cross-examine the witness after which counsel for the NDC, Tsatsu Tsikata will also cross-examine the witness.
It is possible that after the three set of lawyers have had a go at the witness, the petitioner's counsel, Philip Addison might call for redirect examination to seal any loopholes in Dr Bawumia's testimony.
Thus, it is not even time for the First Respondent to call his first witness, but it appears the NDC chief scribe is all revved up and raring to mount the witness box which is currently being occupied by Dr. Bawumia.
He revealed on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia show that he “anxiously can’t wait to stand in the box”.
“I believe if I should even close my eyes, no one can outmaneuver me with any law,” he said.
In his estimation, he would perform better than Dr. Bawumia “who has problems with his mathematics” should he be granted the opportunity to mount the witness box.
He noted that it would simply be a disaster for him to allow any inexperienced person to use the laws governing elections to make him fall flat on his face.
“If I should err, then it means I am simply blockheaded and I can’t fault God for that”, he said.
According to him, he knows he would deliver flawlessly in the witness box and wouldn’t be subjected to any form of fears.
Touching briefly on what motivated him to make the claim even though it wasn’t his time yet, Mr. Asiedu Nketia stated that his continuous participation in electoral matters make it impossible for him to be timid.
“From 1978, I have actively participated in electoral matters. I haven’t missed participating in any public election that has been held in Ghana. I have either acted as a polling agent, candidate, a campaign member or a General Secretary leading a political party,” he stated.
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