COMMENT: Televising Supreme Court will offer no political advantage

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Egya Blay 12 years ago

Their reputation is at stake!

Their reputation is at stake!
Joe ballack UK 12 years ago

Live telecast is great

Live telecast is great
Play Boy 12 years ago

Kofi this is nonsense. Then tell the parliament to delete that part of the constitution which encourages the challenging of election and replace that with "all Ghanian's must be mute after election even if it is glaring that ...
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Kofi this is nonsense. Then tell the parliament to delete that part of the constitution which encourages the challenging of election and replace that with "all Ghanian's must be mute after election even if it is glaring that one has cheated". How can Ghana move on if people like you write to the masses? I am not in the view that surely Nana will win, but the law is there so if anyone wants to challenge it and it falls within the confinement of the constitution, why should that person be chastised or seen as nation wrecker? Rather those that don't want the truth to come out are nation wreckers. Nana as well as JDM has said positively that, he will accept the rulings of the SC, so why think he is wrecking the nation? Please don't write such crap again because the verdict can go either way and it is good to test our constitution. That is why there is no constructive research in Ghana because some of us think that will bring havoc to the nation. Ghanians are afraid to test the waters and we will remain as such.
okra 12 years ago

What I see in Ghana is that the country is divided into two on political lines. No one sees anything in a fair light. Kofi Thompson is purely bias and writes about his own frustration with regards to how he can also protect h ...
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What I see in Ghana is that the country is divided into two on political lines. No one sees anything in a fair light. Kofi Thompson is purely bias and writes about his own frustration with regards to how he can also protect his hold on power and enjoyment of the national wealth. If Kofi is fair and doing this for the love of the country he wont be quick to accuse one side of being peeved for not getting the chance to come to power to loot the nation when he knows very well that the looting of the ruling government is certainly worse than whatever looting may have witnessed under kufuor. Where are kufuor spent 35 billion in 8 years including everything that was stolen, this government has spent 34 billion in just 4 years and we have no water and no electricity. Please kofi lets limit our focus to the protection of the democracy we have chosen and hope that this case will established the varied democracy that we want to practice. Is it one that elections can be rigged and the cheat allowed to go free and rule the people or one that losers just make unnecessary accusation of rigging just to disrupt our national life? Lets seek that truth and when we find it this can even path way for challenging our politicians and bringing confidence in our judicial system.
Fire Burn U 12 years ago

Whoever bribed u to excrete this nonsense should go back for their money. Your argument is infantile. What are u afraid of? Do Ghanaians not deserve to know the truth?

Are u suggesting that if a fraud is committed, we shou ...
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Whoever bribed u to excrete this nonsense should go back for their money. Your argument is infantile. What are u afraid of? Do Ghanaians not deserve to know the truth?

Are u suggesting that if a fraud is committed, we shouldn't find out why and how it was done? Are you saying the strong shall continue to trample on the weak as they do in the jungle?

Are you afraid that as the election fraud unravels, even shameless people like yourself and Asiedu-Nketiah will find it difficult to continue spinning?

If you say one party is bitter for not getting power to enrich itself, does it not follow that the party that got power is enriching itself?

Is that the Ghana a supposed intellectual like u want to perpetuate. Come on, u can do better.
Osonba 12 years ago

thank you! it's because of people like this so-called Kofi Thompson that the country is not progessing. Supporters of the NDC think that nobody else has the right to challenge their views. We only thank Rawlings for foisting ...
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thank you! it's because of people like this so-called Kofi Thompson that the country is not progessing. Supporters of the NDC think that nobody else has the right to challenge their views. We only thank Rawlings for foisting such an artificial monstrosity of a juggernaut onto Ghana! God bless him!
Victor A. Young 12 years ago

This article is bogus! The essence of a live telecast or broadcast of the petition brought before the Supreme Court is for Ghanaians to know exactly what went wrong. Ghanaians ought to know, in this elections, what actually h ...
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This article is bogus! The essence of a live telecast or broadcast of the petition brought before the Supreme Court is for Ghanaians to know exactly what went wrong. Ghanaians ought to know, in this elections, what actually have been going on since 1992; the kind of tactics the NDC have been using since those times.

Nobody said a live telecast or broadcast would give NPP or NDC an advantage! The Supreme Court Justices will make their decision on the case and Nana & Co., have said they'll accept whatever the verdict will be. So the writer, Kofi Thompson should do well, to make an honest presentation here on the internet, rather than spreading falsehood. Lies and propaganda won't help the NDC. Period!
Paul Amuna 12 years ago

You are quite right. One only hopes that the 'amateur political spin doctors' will not try to twist and interpret the proceedings in a completely different way whilst the proceedings are going on. We saw this in the famous Mi ...
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You are quite right. One only hopes that the 'amateur political spin doctors' will not try to twist and interpret the proceedings in a completely different way whilst the proceedings are going on. We saw this in the famous Michael Jackson trial except that ordinary Ghanaians who are not fools, can follow it and offer their own opinions.

In my personal opinion, those who sought to have the proceedings televised have miscalculated the potential benefits to them. On the other hand, they (and the supreme court) have done our democracy a great favour and one hopes students and researchers of political science are taking note and preparing theses on this chapter in our political history.

I happen to believe that the truth of the electoral processes and its flaws will be learned during the trial and hopefully, we will improve our structures going forward.

I also hope that when all is said and done, those who have taken advantage of the ridiculous situation created and have lavished in the difficulties the government is facing, would realise that Ghana after all, belongs to all, not a few, and that they (and their supporters) had better realise that 'being Ghanaian' and 'believing in the plurality of one one-but-many Ghanaianness' is far more important than party, religious or tribal affiliations. A nation divided will certainly not stand and we do our nation no favours at all when we resort to cheap politics based on very narrow personal and in my view selfish motives.

Let's wait and see. I believe level headed Ghanaians (i.e. the majority) only wish to see fairness and justice and for us to move forward as one nation (under God) working for unity, freedom, justice and the emancipation of our people. Ghana is for Ghanaians, proud to be one!
The ABiggie 12 years ago

Paul, it is obvious that the country is sharply divided along political and ethnic grounds. If (thanks to Rawlings)all of Volta, Upper East and Upper West will vote NDC, BOTH PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY, then we have a pr ...
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Paul, it is obvious that the country is sharply divided along political and ethnic grounds. If (thanks to Rawlings)all of Volta, Upper East and Upper West will vote NDC, BOTH PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY, then we have a problem as a nation.I will call Eastern and Ashanti as NPP strongholds. Even here, NDC won a good proportion of the votes, just as the north gave most votes to the NDC. The NPP had some votes in the north. All the other regions are "SWING" votes areas; Greater Accra, Central, Western and Brong Ahafo.Only time will tell the true nature of people who parade themselves as ......
Paul Amuna 12 years ago

Before you draw Rawlings, tribes and others into it, may I remind you that these "Blue State" "Red State" phenomenon is seen even in the US where democrats or republicans have little chance of winning in certain States or Cou ...
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Before you draw Rawlings, tribes and others into it, may I remind you that these "Blue State" "Red State" phenomenon is seen even in the US where democrats or republicans have little chance of winning in certain States or Counties within States e.g. different parts of Florida.

Please don't blame Rawlings or anyone else. Our history also suggests that the Northern People's Party was a strong ally of the UGCC group which is today's NPP, but Nkrumah managed to sweep the North with the CPP despite the so-called "tribal leanings" which essentially remain(ed)mostly among the "elites" in the north. You would agree with me that things have become more 'blurred' and complex over the last 40 years or so and the electorate, more sophisticated. Perhaps the place where these lines were firmly drawn were in the 1979 general elections in which a new alliance between the north and south resulted in the PNP (a supposedly Nkrumahist party) winning the elections.

I am just trying to analyse things as I see them and we keep coming back to tribe, North vs. South all the time. I am happy to have these discussions with people like you, but really have no time to examine these issues purely from tribal lenses as some people like to do on this forum.

Mania. 12 years ago

An true, brother, an true.

An true, brother, an true.
USMAN. 12 years ago

Ben Ephson rubbished this laudable approach to ensuring peace and security. Where is this piggy man?

Ben Ephson rubbished this laudable approach to ensuring peace and security. Where is this piggy man?
NANA WILL LOSE ONE TOUCH IN COURT 12 years ago

THIS WILL BE ANOTHER ONE TOUCH LOSS FOR NANA ADDO. AND HE IS TRYING TO DRAG THE NPP ALONG. CAN YOU IMAGINE HE DISGRACEFUL FACE NANA WILL POSTURE ON THE DAY HE IS TOLD THAT HE WASTED GHANA'S TIME SENDING FALSE ALLEGATION TO CO ...
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THIS WILL BE ANOTHER ONE TOUCH LOSS FOR NANA ADDO. AND HE IS TRYING TO DRAG THE NPP ALONG. CAN YOU IMAGINE HE DISGRACEFUL FACE NANA WILL POSTURE ON THE DAY HE IS TOLD THAT HE WASTED GHANA'S TIME SENDING FALSE ALLEGATION TO COURT AND ATTEMPTING TO INCITE CHAOS TO DISTURB OUR PEACE? NANA WILL SURELY DEVELOP A LONG FACE COME THAT DAY.
ERICUS-ERICUS 12 years ago

THE LIVE TELECAST WILL TO A LARGER EXTEND SET EVERYONE'S HEART AT PEACE.

THE LIVE TELECAST WILL TO A LARGER EXTEND SET EVERYONE'S HEART AT PEACE.
Kwadwo 12 years ago

If live telecast will not create political advantage, why even write about and attack the Petitioners? It seems you are afraid of what this case may reveal of the elections.

If live telecast will not create political advantage, why even write about and attack the Petitioners? It seems you are afraid of what this case may reveal of the elections.
ABU OKYEMAN .KYEBI 12 years ago

WHO IS THIS FOOLISH KOFI THOMPSON ?'WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT BE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL AS A GHANIAN.IDIOT .

WHO IS THIS FOOLISH KOFI THOMPSON ?'WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT BE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL AS A GHANIAN.IDIOT .
KOFI DAMESI 12 years ago

NOW MY OLD MOTHER WILL NOW UNDERSTAND AFARI GYAN'S GENUINE MISTAKE FOR OVER VOTING AND DUPLICATING OF NAMES IN ABROAD AND WHERE THE VOTES WENT. LET SEE WHETHER WE HAVE BASHIRUS AND MAHAMAS IN INDONESIA. KOFI DAMESI.

NOW MY OLD MOTHER WILL NOW UNDERSTAND AFARI GYAN'S GENUINE MISTAKE FOR OVER VOTING AND DUPLICATING OF NAMES IN ABROAD AND WHERE THE VOTES WENT. LET SEE WHETHER WE HAVE BASHIRUS AND MAHAMAS IN INDONESIA. KOFI DAMESI.
Abokyi 12 years ago

Wondering why commentary LIKE THIS was allowed to be aired in the first place. What Ghanaians now are seeking is objective comments on SADA - the Akonfem Saga.

Kofi Thompson appears to be an Errand Boy of the NDC

Wondering why commentary LIKE THIS was allowed to be aired in the first place. What Ghanaians now are seeking is objective comments on SADA - the Akonfem Saga.

Kofi Thompson appears to be an Errand Boy of the NDC
PONCHO 12 years ago

It is neither NPP or NDC that we seek, but the truth about the election outcome.
Was President Mahama a fraud?
Ghana cannot move forward with that question hanging on the background.
The media coverage will just bring the ...
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It is neither NPP or NDC that we seek, but the truth about the election outcome.
Was President Mahama a fraud?
Ghana cannot move forward with that question hanging on the background.
The media coverage will just bring the court room proceedings to our homes without actually being at the court.
We seek the truth and the truth shall prevail.
TRUTH 12 years ago

Too many blockheads commenting here today.In one breath, the NPP say the election was rigged in connivance with John Mahama. In another, they make claims of gross irregularities. They make foul noise on radio n TV and fail to ...
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Too many blockheads commenting here today.In one breath, the NPP say the election was rigged in connivance with John Mahama. In another, they make claims of gross irregularities. They make foul noise on radio n TV and fail to do same in court. Lets see how their case fair in court. Tribalist Ashanti/ Akyem party will dwell in the dark holes of opposition for a long time.

discipline holland 12 years ago

WHO ARE YOU TO SPEAK THIS SHIT. CURRUPT CHILD

WHO ARE YOU TO SPEAK THIS SHIT. CURRUPT CHILD
PEKI TUMU 12 years ago

Many of us who are unsure about the telecasting take our positions in part from what prevails in most of Commonwealth to which Ghana belongs.

Telecasting is frowned upon by the judges in English Courts for the simple rea ...
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Many of us who are unsure about the telecasting take our positions in part from what prevails in most of Commonwealth to which Ghana belongs.

Telecasting is frowned upon by the judges in English Courts for the simple reasons that it is they, well trained and experienced judges, who are deciding on the issues and not the public, many of who are amateurs at the law and who are viewing the telecast.

Additionally not telecasting concentrates the minds of the lawyers to focus on the issues and presentation in the court undistracted by the public viewing aspects.

What the advocates of telecasting also forget is that the medium of transactions of the Court in Ghana is the English language which is not spoken or understood by most of the citizens of the country. So the telecasting seems to be meant for the minority elites who can be bothered to watch.

All in all, therefore employing it does not in many respects advance our democracy one bit. What it does is that it opens the outcome, whoever wins, to much chatter and ill informed comments.

One would hope it does not expose the judges to undue and unwanted pressure and abuse whichever side they opt for in their judgments

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COMMENT: Televising Supreme Court will offer no political advantage

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