Justice Atuguba blocks Tsatsu from introducing new pink sheets

Justice William Atuguba on Wednesday blocked counsel for National Democratic Congress (NDC), Tsatsu Tsikata from proceeding to ask the witness in the box Dr. Bawumia to identify any extra pink sheets, in the ongoing hearing of the petition challenging the 2012 presidential election results.

This is not withstanding a 'landmark' ruling by the court on Tuesday to the effect that pink sheets which have some irregularities would not be overlooked when properly brought to their attention.

Immediately after the ruling, some prominent lawyers for the NDC including Nana Ato Dadzie said the NDC could now forage into votes from the strongholds of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“Now let us open every pink sheet,” he declared, ostensibly seeking for annulment in NPP strongholds.

It was perceived that with the ruling, the NDC lawyer would be allowed to bring another extra pink sheet for identification by the witness. This he did.

Mr. Philip Addison, counsel for the petitioners raised another objection for the identification of another pink sheet. He said they disapproved of counsel of the third respondent springing up surprises.

Presiding Judge, Justice William Atuguba sustained the objection raised by Addison. At the request of the NDC lawyer, Justice Atuguba read out his ruling yesterday for emphasis.

He explained: "So far as the question objected to, seeks compositely to portray that there are other pinks sheets with malpractices of the kind in respect of which the witness has testified that they should be annulled, the objection is over ruled.

"However, beyond such composite question, the questioning cannot be allowed in such as much, the third respondent’s turn to testify along this line is yet to come."