NPP's petition is an insult to integrity of SC Judges - Fred Agbenyo

A member of Government’s Communication Team, Fred Agbenyo, has described as an “insult to the integrity” of the Supreme Court Justices who sat on the election petition case, the petition by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), asking the Chief Justice to initiate an inquiry into some aspects of comments by former Deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hammah, contained in the leaked tape.

Victoria Hammah was heard on tape alleging that the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, met with the Supreme Court Judges prior to the verdict on the election petition case that validated the presidency of John Mahama some months ago.

She was heard on the tape saying: "I learnt even before the verdict, Nana (Oye Lithur) was with the Justices and all that. You don’t know the role she has played for us to win the court case..."

Subsequently, NPP in a statement issued last Friday, called on the Chief Justice to investigate claims by the dismissed deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hammah, that government influenced the 2012 presidential election petition.

The statement signed by Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie also known as Sir John, expressed “shocked at the damning revelations made by now former Deputy Minister of Communications, Victoria Hammah, claiming the verdict of the presidential election petition delivered by Justice William Atuguba on the 29th of August was influenced by the government of President John Dramani Mahama”.

Adding that: “The NPP is calling on the Chief Justice to, as a matter of urgency; institute a commission to probe the judgement of the 9 Supreme Court judges in the wake of these revelations by Victoria Hammah”.

But the NDC activist, contributing to a panel discussion on PeaceFM'S "Kokrokoo", found the NPP's petition an "insult". According to him, Ms. Hammah's statements may not be entirely true, and the tape recording infringes on her discretionary right.

“It’s about the highest insult to the integrity of the men and women whose time was wasted at the Supreme Court for eight months, who sat down to hear all the issues. Suddenly, the NPP doesn’t have any confidence in them. Suddenly, the NPP believes that somebody corrupted them...

“I will be so surprised that now they can jump on a thing like this; petty allegations that we cannot find any evidence to, gossip by people.”

Left to him alone, the revelations by the former Deputy Communications Minister were mere "rumors" and will be “very surprised and shocked” if any form of investigation is conducted by the CJ into such a "petty" petition.

“They [NPP] think that Ghana’s Chief Justice can be reduced to such level of pettiness to go and investigate rumours and allegations?” he quizzed.