Is this the Beginning of the End for Nana Akufo Addo?

Read Article

Comments (53)

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (53)

Concerned Citizen 12 years ago

How do you relate or interpret the term STATUTORY in terms of the stipulations in the Constitutional Instrument(CI75) that set out the rules for election 2012? Are you conversant with the terms therein and the details of the ...
read full comment

How do you relate or interpret the term STATUTORY in terms of the stipulations in the Constitutional Instrument(CI75) that set out the rules for election 2012? Are you conversant with the terms therein and the details of the minutes of the meetings held with all parties by the Electoral Commission?

What were the use and significance of the biometric verfications in the elections if all voters were not to pass through that system before voting? Why were some voters turned away from some polling stations for the machines rejecting them, thus, not recognising them even though their photos and names were on the voter register, and others allowed to vote in some areas in the complete absence of such machines? Be a judge yourself on your so-called "Mind the Gap" and the sarcastic title you've chosen for your write-up. Why were the machines imported at all if they were not to play a definite role in the election?

Have you considered those not allowed to vote because of the biometric verification machines not recognising them? Are they not equally human beings as the number you are now talking about?

There is no point I dwell on discussing your views, as biased as your title and the last but one paragraph appear.

Bye.
NAA DEDEI 12 years ago

thank you very much my dear citizen. you have said it all. i think i have to pass this one for now cos i don't want to waste my time to comment on such silly and bias articles like this particular one.

thank you very much my dear citizen. you have said it all. i think i have to pass this one for now cos i don't want to waste my time to comment on such silly and bias articles like this particular one.
NPP Cocaine Pusher 12 years ago

If the national looting brigade and cocaine barons want to keep the 70 year old evil dwarf as their leader then they should be prepared to remain in opposition forever

If the national looting brigade and cocaine barons want to keep the 70 year old evil dwarf as their leader then they should be prepared to remain in opposition forever
Okocha 12 years ago

These legal war won't help those of us who are alien when it comes to legal issues especially at the top level.All what we are waiting for the SC is their final ruling,PERIOD.

These legal war won't help those of us who are alien when it comes to legal issues especially at the top level.All what we are waiting for the SC is their final ruling,PERIOD.
srome 12 years ago

you dont need to thank anyone, the article is an opinion of the author, engage him and present your rebuttal and stop complaining about biaseness and calling people silly.

you dont need to thank anyone, the article is an opinion of the author, engage him and present your rebuttal and stop complaining about biaseness and calling people silly.
DusTY-FooT-pHiloSophER 12 years ago

No comment!

No comment!
CA 12 years ago

As much as the 1992 constitution guarantees people the right to vote, does it mean that whoever claims to be Ghanaian Citizen should be allowed to vote during elections?
Let us say, Togolese who speaks Ewe perfectly, claims ...
read full comment

As much as the 1992 constitution guarantees people the right to vote, does it mean that whoever claims to be Ghanaian Citizen should be allowed to vote during elections?
Let us say, Togolese who speaks Ewe perfectly, claims to be Ghanaian should be allowed to vote? Does this universal or fundamental human right applies in this circumstance?
Can illegals in the UK & USA claim this fundamental human right to vote in these countries because theyhave access to fake ID's or social security numbers?
Anyone can have photo ID (either fake or not). Is this enough identification to just turn up and demand to vote in any election? How is Ghana going to prevent citizens of Togo/Upper Volta from participating in future Ghana elections just because they claim to be from Ghana? Should citizen of Ghana even bother to go through any verification process at all in the future? Well, I can just turn up and show any form of ID and I should be allowed to vote because of universal or Fundamental Human Right. What if someone had turned up with fake ID and the officer at the poll cannot tell the difference? Just as "Concern Citizen" mentioned, is it not constitutionally wrong for the EC to turn people away because of broken biometric machines? By turning them away, isn't the EC violating their constitutional or fundamental human right to vote when they could have produced an alternative ID? Well, I still like your article.
Big mouth 12 years ago

What about Ivorians who speak Twi,arew they also allowed to vote??

What about Ivorians who speak Twi,arew they also allowed to vote??
Okocha 12 years ago

Though I don't belong to the wig family but what I know is that is only the constitution that determines whether a person is a national of a country or not but not the number of languages the person can speak.We have Ghanaian ...
read full comment

Though I don't belong to the wig family but what I know is that is only the constitution that determines whether a person is a national of a country or not but not the number of languages the person can speak.We have Ghanaians who can't speak any of our Ghanaian languages.LET US WAIT FOR THE SC TO DECIDE.
Kankam 12 years ago

Any one turning up with a fake ID could not vote because it had to tally with the one in the voting register.You therefore can turn up to vote with any ID.The same in Europe as you are talking there no biometric.Can an illega ...
read full comment

Any one turning up with a fake ID could not vote because it had to tally with the one in the voting register.You therefore can turn up to vote with any ID.The same in Europe as you are talking there no biometric.Can an illegal therefore turn up with any/fake ID to vote? NO the ID has to correspond with the voters register especially in England where there are no photo IDs.

GIDO like MIDO 12 years ago

The fundamental question inyour post is can any one prove that illegal people voted? it is assumed that all who voted are ghanaians, and nobody can prove that a togolese voted. can the petitioners prove that some people voted ...
read full comment

The fundamental question inyour post is can any one prove that illegal people voted? it is assumed that all who voted are ghanaians, and nobody can prove that a togolese voted. can the petitioners prove that some people voted with fake IDs? if so then it is impossible for nana addo to win this case.
remember that when the EC turned people away from voting die to broken machines, it gave them another opprotunity to vote the next day period. and of those turned away, how many were they and are they enough to turn the verdict? and how would u know who they would have voted for? the SC can not take away the franchise of the 4.6 million people nana addo want deleted, that it would not do, that would destroy ghana's democracy because it would render voting in any election thence void. the best outcome is for the SC to ask the same EC for a rerun of the elctions. it could as well declare that the issues are not substantive therefore mahama should stay. in the first scenario of rerun, remember that those 4.6 million voters will cast their vote and mahama won the majority, only this time the EC officials and polling agents would have to sign and we would return to square one of mahama begining another four year term plus those he had alrady spent
Kankam 12 years ago

Please I beg to differ.The constitution supersedes any statutory law,Therefore it is impossible to disfranchise a voter once his vote is counted.The none utilization of biometric machine is not an infringement since it was no ...
read full comment

Please I beg to differ.The constitution supersedes any statutory law,Therefore it is impossible to disfranchise a voter once his vote is counted.The none utilization of biometric machine is not an infringement since it was not working and it was agreed to by all parties,since the tally was signed by them all.Would there has been any petition had the NPP won in areas where verifications were done otherwise? Lets say,Your father instructs you to use his car to go to court.On the way you had a mechanical failure.Will you continue by other means or wait and tell your father that you missed court proceedings because of mechanical problems?
CROSS 12 years ago

Mr Concerned Citizen, kindly spare Kofi Atta for this is the first balanced article i have read on GhanaWeb and not the crap from some Dr Borkor. This is an intellectual piece that allows you to think through every angle of t ...
read full comment

Mr Concerned Citizen, kindly spare Kofi Atta for this is the first balanced article i have read on GhanaWeb and not the crap from some Dr Borkor. This is an intellectual piece that allows you to think through every angle of the substantive case. In fact his interpretation of Statutory means the SC may interpret it your way which is CI75 or the mother document Constitution or both and that is exactly what he has done. Brilliant article for the free mind and not the party political clouded mind.Ghana side till we die and not NDC and NPP.
Sankofa 12 years ago

The right to vote is enshrined by the constitution.

The constitution is the supreme law of the land, and supersedes all arrangements that were made by the EC and the political parties prior to the elections.

The fact t ...
read full comment

The right to vote is enshrined by the constitution.

The constitution is the supreme law of the land, and supersedes all arrangements that were made by the EC and the political parties prior to the elections.

The fact that some people were allowed to vote without verification, and others were apparently not allowed does not nullify the vote.
Mania. 12 years ago

No need for insults and sarcasm. Statutory, is in the context that, all subsidiary legislation, are subject to the provisions of the constitution. In the context that a provision of a sub legislation is in conflict with the c ...
read full comment

No need for insults and sarcasm. Statutory, is in the context that, all subsidiary legislation, are subject to the provisions of the constitution. In the context that a provision of a sub legislation is in conflict with the constitution, that of the constitution will prevail.to me this is basic without any further expatiation, abii?
Marlin 12 years ago

... than Akufo-Addo?

... than Akufo-Addo?
DAN 12 years ago

so he has to write down what he see's on the toilet walls and publish that

so he has to write down what he see's on the toilet walls and publish that
Ghanaian Nationalist. 12 years ago

Kofi Ata, thank you for your informative piece.It clarifies the issues at stake for those of us who do not belong to the wig fraternity.

Kofi Ata, thank you for your informative piece.It clarifies the issues at stake for those of us who do not belong to the wig fraternity.
Kankam 12 years ago

He does not make sense.Read my other comments.

He does not make sense.Read my other comments.
DAN 12 years ago

even tho the supreme court is taking 10 times longer than Kenya..maybe they will do the right thing

even tho the supreme court is taking 10 times longer than Kenya..maybe they will do the right thing

kofi 12 years ago

very nice one

very nice one
Okocha 12 years ago

Those for and against the analysis put before the public domain by Kofi are making mockery of themselves. My question is, does his analysis make finality of the case before our SC?

Those for and against the analysis put before the public domain by Kofi are making mockery of themselves. My question is, does his analysis make finality of the case before our SC?
Speedy 12 years ago

Go back to your job at pizza hut.idiot.no sense in your article.

Go back to your job at pizza hut.idiot.no sense in your article.
srome 12 years ago

is this all you can offer after reading such a lengthy article, be a better Ghanaian and stop the insult, we want to read your intelligent contribution.

is this all you can offer after reading such a lengthy article, be a better Ghanaian and stop the insult, we want to read your intelligent contribution.
mensah abrampa 12 years ago

Kofi, flashes of your intellectual cred. and political neutrality in some of your articles don't fail to attract the attention of your readers.There's no question about your patriotism.
I've seen the fire in your belly but s ...
read full comment

Kofi, flashes of your intellectual cred. and political neutrality in some of your articles don't fail to attract the attention of your readers.There's no question about your patriotism.
I've seen the fire in your belly but strangely enough it's sometimes misdirected. How do you account for the huge rasmussen between the title and the contents of your feature article? You surely ruffled some feathers with this screaming and misleading title. Is this article meant to be your last throw of the dice to whoop it up for Mahama before the SC rules on the election petition or you're vainly trying to airbrush the history of our last electoral hiccup?
Much as I try to think otherwise some of your articles on this site seem to suggest there's no daylight between you and Nana Akuffo Addo. This latest one puts you in the sack with the Akuffo Addo bashers and hatemongers.Can you in all sincerity declare that the december elections were free and fair and that Mahama and the NDC won without any sleight of hand? If you're in doubt read the feature article of April 1, 2013 by Abdul Fatawu : OPEN LETTER TO ASIEDU NKETIAH : SAVE KPANDAI NDC BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. The contents of this article are very revealing and they epitomize what happened generally in most polling stations across the nation during the december elections.
You just lost the high ground on political neutrality and fairness. The problem in Ghana is that there's too much political and intellectual dishonesty. Everyday is election day and everyday is a campaign day for partisan politics.Our nation seems to always comes last before sectionalism, tribalism and partisan politics.Let's call a spade a spade and save our motherland.
David Atugiya 12 years ago

Talking to one of my NPP legal friends after the SC ruling and direction on the trial of the petition before it, it was clear from both us that Nana and his co-petitioners will loose the case.

Our verdict on the issues to ...
read full comment

Talking to one of my NPP legal friends after the SC ruling and direction on the trial of the petition before it, it was clear from both us that Nana and his co-petitioners will loose the case.

Our verdict on the issues to be determined by the Supreme Court is 1. was there any statutory violations in the elections the answer is no because the EC did not violate any Law in the conduct of the December 2012 elections; 2. were there malpractices - no, cos all party agents were present at all the polling stations where every results were declared in the full view of the public including Local, National and International Elections observers; 3. were there omissions - yes, there might be; 4. were there irregularities - yes.( Parties win elections with numbers(votes) not by attempting to disenfranchise others because they voted without verification via the Biometric Machine or that the pink sheets were not signed which had obsolutely nothing to do with the voter who exercised his or her right to vote; but did all these affect the free and fairness of the conduct and the outcome of the election results, both our answer was or is NO.

One cannot comprehen why Nana and his co-petitioners would think that the SC Justices would anull nearly 5m votes cast just because some of voters were either not verified by a BVM (but had other forms of identification suffienct enough to allow them to vote as per 1992 Constitution) through no fault of thiers or that some pink sheets were not signed, though may be an irregularity cannot invalidate the votes cast.

Kofi, to me is therefore right to suggest that the ruling yesterday by the SC Justices on the two substantial issues to be considered at the trail hearing for them to make a decision on the petition, might be the beginning of the end of Nana Addo
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

Mensah Abrampa, would it have been ok if I had used President Mahama instead of Nana Akufo Addo in the title? As I indicated in the article, the same analysis could have been true for President Mahama. It is interesting how s ...
read full comment

Mensah Abrampa, would it have been ok if I had used President Mahama instead of Nana Akufo Addo in the title? As I indicated in the article, the same analysis could have been true for President Mahama. It is interesting how some readers interpreted the heading as negative and not affirmative for Nana Akufo Addo.

I have no intention of being one of "the Akufo Addo bashers" as you described. My articles on Akufo Addo is to do an objective analysis of issues and be a critical friend. Though most pro Akufo Addo consider my articles as anti Akufo Addo, that is far from the truth. I have written articles to criticise him as well as in his defence. For example, when I made public his Oxford record through Ghanaweb, I did so to end the mystery of whether he was a student at Oxford or not. Despite his supporters seeing my action as anti, it indeed, put an end to that debate. For me, that was good for him as I helped kill the rumours on that subject.

It's unfortunate to describe the article or me as political and intellectual dishonesty. This is your view but I disagree with you. I have friends and former mates who are strong supporters of NPP and Nana Akufo Addo and they agree with my analysis.

If I had the authority to call the election for candidate A or B, I would have done so long time ago and saved Ghana and the politicians, lawyers and Justices involved in the petition the trouble of having to go through it.

My intention was not to draw definite conclusions but to pose questions for discussions, so that we can disagree to agree.
razak seini 12 years ago

a very good write up.
our elders says that "the cultural dance of monkeys does not concern the dogs" I registered and voted as a ghanain -ah what is my concern whether afari gyan's men signed the pink sheets or a machine did ...
read full comment

a very good write up.
our elders says that "the cultural dance of monkeys does not concern the dogs" I registered and voted as a ghanain -ah what is my concern whether afari gyan's men signed the pink sheets or a machine did not work.no body can simply throw away my vote as a ghanain bcos of inefficiency of the system
Egbeze Mintah 12 years ago

Yea, i agree with you that Nana Akufo Addo has a long way to go. But a journey of a mile begins with a step. This is just the begining to a glorious end. This story of bravery and Justice will be passed on from generation to ...
read full comment

Yea, i agree with you that Nana Akufo Addo has a long way to go. But a journey of a mile begins with a step. This is just the begining to a glorious end. This story of bravery and Justice will be passed on from generation to generation. Every mother one Earth gave birth to a child, but Nana's mother gave birth to a legend.)
Long live Ghana,
Long live Justice,
Long live Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo.
KING TWALA 12 years ago

I SHARE THE VIEW THAT THE END RESULTS WILL BE RE-ELECTION AND NO OTHER WAY OUT UNLESS THERE IS A PROVE THAT MAHAMA GOVERNMENT CONDOLE AND CONNIVED TO MANIPULATE THE ELECTION RESULTS. THIS CASE CANNOT BE PREDICTED EASILY BUT F ...
read full comment

I SHARE THE VIEW THAT THE END RESULTS WILL BE RE-ELECTION AND NO OTHER WAY OUT UNLESS THERE IS A PROVE THAT MAHAMA GOVERNMENT CONDOLE AND CONNIVED TO MANIPULATE THE ELECTION RESULTS. THIS CASE CANNOT BE PREDICTED EASILY BUT FROM LOOK OF THINGS MAHAMA GOVERNMENT WILL WIN THE CASE TECHNICALLY. NEXT TIME PARTY OBSERVERS MUST BE STRICTLY CHARGED TO DO THEIR WORK ACTIVELY

Timbuktu 12 years ago

Your 'analysis' is utter rubbish!

Your 'analysis' is utter rubbish!
Kwesi Agbenu 12 years ago

Kofi Ata looks scared

Kofi Ata looks scared
Jim Jones 12 years ago

It is just the end of the beginning so dont worry and be happy.

It is just the end of the beginning so dont worry and be happy.
FKM 12 years ago

Thanks - one of the few insightful commentaries I have read in months.

Thanks - one of the few insightful commentaries I have read in months.
NanaAddo 12 years ago

Akuffo Addo should respond to justice Kpegah

Akuffo Addo should respond to justice Kpegah
Kwaku 12 years ago

Akufo-Addo's cup is full

Akufo-Addo's cup is full
Luther King 12 years ago

i always admire the way u try to be objective in your analyses of issues. however, i need to make a little correction - the petitioners are not alleging fraud, or vote rigging, but irregularities. NPP has two positions, one i ...
read full comment

i always admire the way u try to be objective in your analyses of issues. however, i need to make a little correction - the petitioners are not alleging fraud, or vote rigging, but irregularities. NPP has two positions, one in court and the other on radio. the one in court says irregularities, and the one on radio and court of public opinion (COPO) is rigging, stealing, and fraud. this inconsistency is troubling. the leaders are taking the party for granted by speaking from all corners of their mouths. as usual, the gullible supporters will not see the inconsistency.

am NPP but one of those who believe that the case in court is useless and will make us loose the 2016 elections again. the party needs to reorganization to remove the asante - akyem tag that the NDC has used successfully. Again, leaders of the party must be serious ones and not comedians like sir john. we shd rebrand the party to be one for decent ppl and prevent the likes of Ken agyepong, ursula owusu, maxwell kofi juma etc from making public comments as this tend to take the floating voters away from the party.

furthermore a quality Ga shd be elected as a flag bearer to increase votes in the ga areas. we can then make our inputs into the reforms of the electoral laws as we have always done since 1992. but we are spending time in court that i think will take us nowhere. my strong belief, like all other bodies, is that the elections were the most free and fair in the 4th republic. mahama may have used money to win which is unfair cos he abused incumbency and over spent his budget just to win with the resultant hardships ghana is facing now.

my verdict on the two issues to be determined by the Supreme Court is 1. was there statutory violations - no, were there malpractices - no, cos all party agents were there, were there omissions - yes, were there irregularities - yes. but did all these affect the outcome of the election results, my answer is NO. ppl win elections with numbers(votes) not by attempting to disenfranchise others.

the time to build the party is now. lets not let someone's inordinate ambition to be president let us remain in opposition for long. long live Ghana, Long Live the Great NPP.
FireMan 12 years ago

I believe people like you should lead our great NPP.Our party needs intelligent people to run and not the lokes of Sir John and Jake.

I believe people like you should lead our great NPP.Our party needs intelligent people to run and not the lokes of Sir John and Jake.
Vuvuzela 12 years ago

Looks like you like your country than you do your party, which makes me think you're a very intelligent person, honest and discerning.

Ghana is for us all; we must defend its values.

Looks like you like your country than you do your party, which makes me think you're a very intelligent person, honest and discerning.

Ghana is for us all; we must defend its values.
:):). . . 12 years ago

Luther King wo mame twem. You foolish ndc old boy. You speak from your ANUS. Kwasea bi ba kwa.

Luther King wo mame twem. You foolish ndc old boy. You speak from your ANUS. Kwasea bi ba kwa.
Olando Nawia 12 years ago

He also has to prove that he is not an imposter, another albastross on his neck,

He also has to prove that he is not an imposter, another albastross on his neck,
Asem Beba Dabi 12 years ago

If the constitution guarantees the right of eligible Ghanaians to vote, CI 75, which is inferior to the constitution, cannot abolish that right to vote. Even if people voted without biometric verification, it is their right t ...
read full comment

If the constitution guarantees the right of eligible Ghanaians to vote, CI 75, which is inferior to the constitution, cannot abolish that right to vote. Even if people voted without biometric verification, it is their right to do so under the 1992 Constitution, so long as their names are in the biometric register. Ask any lawyer who you know is not NPP or NDC for confirmation.
Yaw Ohemeng 12 years ago

Some of you are hoping to take shelter behind the Constitution. If it is adjudged that your cliam is right, then the recourse would be to cancel the entire elections rather than let the results of an unconstitutional act prev ...
read full comment

Some of you are hoping to take shelter behind the Constitution. If it is adjudged that your cliam is right, then the recourse would be to cancel the entire elections rather than let the results of an unconstitutional act prevail.

The Constitutional right is there alright but it is subject to certain conditions - you must be Ghanaian, you must be over 18 and you should be biometrically verified. The Constitution only gives the right to be registered to vote and not the absolute right to vote. But on the off chance that this argument is upheld, it just goes to annull the entire process rather than let Mahama be the beneficiary of an unconstitutional act. An illegal contract cannot be enforced; REMEMBER!
Mania. 12 years ago

You are damn right.read my earlier comment,

You are damn right.read my earlier comment,
Luck 12 years ago

I have had to often advance the argument that the SC is case managing this process very well.Considering the initial tension and the potential chaos and destabilization.The SC's role was not only the law but also to help safe ...
read full comment

I have had to often advance the argument that the SC is case managing this process very well.Considering the initial tension and the potential chaos and destabilization.The SC's role was not only the law but also to help safe land the process from getting out of hand.There was therefore the need to diffuse the tension and calm the atmosphere before the legal process begins, this I think, had been excellently done.Now that the parties have abdicated the control of the process voluntary to the SC,the substantive case will start and finish quickly.

There are two main issues in this petition which had been nicely summarized by the SC.The supremacy of the Constitution and its interpretation on one hand and the right of the citizen which which broadly come under International fundamental Human rights law and how its affects the citizen.There are areas of our law though included as part of the Constitution,but takes its authority from this customary International law and there fore difficult to derogate from.So which ever way one looks at the case, the conventional wisdom is that the omen are boding well for the NDC. Irregularities and administrative hiccups have plagued electoral process from time immemorial and we are not going to be the first to use it as grounds for nullifying elections.More so this is one particular election that both local and International observers have unanimously acclaimed as being fair, free and transparent and will therefore defie reason to conclude otherwise.

The stage is now set for the judicial process.In coming to their conclusion, they have to take into consideration several factors.Were the irregularities such that it could affect the outcome of the elections and are the Biometric challenges sufficient to disenfranchise the voter as against human rights guarantees.Personally I don't need to do a veil of seven dances to see where axe will fall.
Matthew 12 years ago

The right to vote is the basis of democracy.The SC cannot remove that.

The right to vote is the basis of democracy.The SC cannot remove that.
Adongo 12 years ago

What an insidious, superfluous hypocrit, Kofi Ata.

Adongo

What an insidious, superfluous hypocrit, Kofi Ata.

Adongo
AbasZ 12 years ago

We live to see.

We live to see.
JAK 12 years ago

A valid registered voter with voter ID who goes through biometric verification is the one who can vote. The fact the one is a Ghanaian does not give one the right to vote.The writer got all wrong.I am Ghanaian and therefore I ...
read full comment

A valid registered voter with voter ID who goes through biometric verification is the one who can vote. The fact the one is a Ghanaian does not give one the right to vote.The writer got all wrong.I am Ghanaian and therefore I have the tight to vote even without a valid voter ID.
CONCERNED GHANAIAN 12 years ago

ELECTIONS HAVE LAID DOWN RULES THAT MUST BE OBEYED. AMONG THEM, VOTER IDENTIFICATION/VERIFICATION, TICKING CLEARLY THE PERSON OF YOUR CHOICE.
THOUGH ONE MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, HE BALLOT PAPER COULD BE REFUSED IF THE RUL ...
read full comment

ELECTIONS HAVE LAID DOWN RULES THAT MUST BE OBEYED. AMONG THEM, VOTER IDENTIFICATION/VERIFICATION, TICKING CLEARLY THE PERSON OF YOUR CHOICE.
THOUGH ONE MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, HE BALLOT PAPER COULD BE REFUSED IF THE RULES ARE NOT ADHERED TO ELSE IT IS USELESS TO MAKE THOSE RULES. WERE THE BIOMETRIC MACHINES MERE DECORATIONS OR THEY WERE TO FIX THE VOTER RIGGING SUSPICIONS? SO WHY DID THEY BREAK DOWN THE WAY THEY DID? AND WHY DID THE PRESIDENT (AT THAT TIME ALSO A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE) TAKE THE UNUSUAL STEP TO ASK PEOPLE IN THOSE REGIONS TO GO AND VOTE WITHOUT THE BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION - THE VERY THING PARTIES WERE TRYING TO AVOID HENCE THE DECISION TO GO FOR THE BIOMETRIC MACHINES? WHY DID THE EC NOT TELL THOSE AFFECTED TO WAIT WHILST THEY FIX THE BM, WHICH PRESUMABLY IS CAPABLE OF DETECTING DOUBLE/GHOST VOTES? ARE ALL THESE COINCIDENCE? GHANAIANS MUST TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR REALITIES, WITHOUT PARTY AFFILIATIONS, AND SET A GOOD PRECEDENCE FOR THE SAKE OF ALL AND FOR TRUE PROGRESS.
Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, London 12 years ago

Kofi, I think you're ignorant to what actually transpired at the court room last Tuesday. I would advise you not to bank all your information on the rented media. They will always mislead you as they have done to you today wh ...
read full comment

Kofi, I think you're ignorant to what actually transpired at the court room last Tuesday. I would advise you not to bank all your information on the rented media. They will always mislead you as they have done to you today which has made part of your analysis naive and irrelevant. There was nothing like the word "STATUTORY" used by any of the 9 Judges. It was coined into the report by the media. In any case, whether statutory or not, the NPP's evidence is solid. Theft is theft; irregularities are irregularities; malpractices are malpractices. They are all against our laws. If we all want Ghana to remain peaceful, we should encourage the judges to be bold and speak the truth. I am confident the truth would come out sooner than later. If you know the Constitution allows every Ghanaian of voting age not to be disenfranchised, why did the government spend so much on biometric verification machines? And why did parliament pass the CI74?
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

Good morning Katakyie, you claim that the word "Statutory" was not in the ruling of the SC but coined by the media, so I was misled and that made my analysis naive and irrelevant.

Katakyie, I will not argue with you on whe ...
read full comment

Good morning Katakyie, you claim that the word "Statutory" was not in the ruling of the SC but coined by the media, so I was misled and that made my analysis naive and irrelevant.

Katakyie, I will not argue with you on whether the media coined the word statutory or not. However, what I know is that, any case that goes before the Supreme Court is about the interpretation and application of the supreme law of the land. The presidential petition will be no different. In other words, whether the ruling contained the word "statutory" or not, the petition will be subjected to the 1992 Constitution. For example, if the petitioners prove that hundreds of thousands of voters did not go through biometric verification and should be discounted from the total valid votes, the SC will be compelled to rule on whether the "No verification, no vote" is constitutional. That is all what I will say in response to your comment.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

Sorry, I should have responded to the role of Parliament in approving the CI74.

The fact that CI74 went before Parliament was approved does not mean it cannot be unconstitutional. A good example was my classmate's case on ...
read full comment

Sorry, I should have responded to the role of Parliament in approving the CI74.

The fact that CI74 went before Parliament was approved does not mean it cannot be unconstitutional. A good example was my classmate's case on Dual Nationality which went to the Supreme Court (Prof Stephen Kwaku Asare -v- Attorney General). In that case Parliament passed legislation and gave the Executive authority to make additional requirement for the qualification of Dual Nationality in addition to what was in the original (Dual) Nationality Act. As a result, the then Minister for Interior issued directives that, Ghanaians who have lost their Ghanaian nationality and now want dual nationality should apply for, pay a fee and be given dual nationality certificate. The Supreme Court ruled this requirement as unconstitutional because Parliament should not have given that authority to the Executive. That was primary legislation and was ruled unconstitutional, how much more secondary legislation? That is why some of have regained our Ghanaian nationality and do not have to apply for it as previously.

53 Comments

Welcome,

SIGN IN

Welcome,

RESET PASSWORD

Hello,

Terms and conditions

REGISTER

Is this the Beginning of the End for Nana Akufo Addo?

Read Comments .st0{display:none;fill:#14BDD3;} .st1{display:none;} .st2{display:inline;fill:#FC0F0F;} .st3{display:inline;fill:#FFFFFF;} .st4{display:inline;fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:6;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Comments (53)

Read Comments Comments (53)