Praise Afari-Gyan for Ghana’s peace not Akufo-Addo - Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, says the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan deserves a "national award" following the outcome of the presidential election petition.

According to him, the EC boss in the face of political pressure, threats and intimidation from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2012, discharged his constitutional mandate with excellence.

The Supreme Court on Thursday August 29 dismissed an election petition filed by the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo and two others praying the court to overturn the EC’s decision in the 2012 election which pronounced John Mahama as president.

The court by a majority decision declared John Mahama as a validly elected president in 2012. The petitioners though “disappointed” have accepted the ruling noting that they won’t seek review.

The first petitioner, Nana Akufo-Addo conceded defeat and called for a national reconciliation to move Ghana forward.

Several people, both home and abroad have commended the petitioners for not resorting to violence.

But Asiedu Nketia on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Friday stated emphatically that the petitioners, especially Nana Akufo-Addo, deserves no praise.

He said the petition was a waste of time and resource because the country has incurred more debt as a result of the live coverage and ensuring security at the court.

Asiedu Nketia contended that the court was not the first option of the NPP leader who he accused of setting his [Nana] infamous All-die-be-die mantra into motion after John Mahama was declared winner of the 2012 election.

Citing the gathering of aggrieved NPP members at Obra Spot in Accra to corroborate his claims, the NDC scribe alleged that it was part of Nana Addo's grand scheme to plunge the country into chaos.

General Mosquito, as he is popularly called, maintained that the NPP flagbearer only went to court after he [Nana] had exhausted all options.

Juxtaposing the role of Nana Addo to that of Afari-Gyan in ensuring peace in the country, Asiedu Nketia believes the latter has been exceptional.

"Such display of courage and showmanship by Dr. Afari Gyan should not go unnoticed" General Mosquito stressed.