Afari Djan has all the facts and Figures so this is not a big deal.
Npp has no more straw to clutch on to. Their last straw was broken by Akadu Mensema's diversionary bigot articles and that of yesterdays Adofo Rockstone's ... read full comment
Afari Djan has all the facts and Figures so this is not a big deal.
Npp has no more straw to clutch on to. Their last straw was broken by Akadu Mensema's diversionary bigot articles and that of yesterdays Adofo Rockstone's Cocoa Scholarships.......hahahahahaahahaha
Diversionary paaaaaaa!!!!
Teacher 10 years ago
Whether Kola or Srpong Illiteracy Guru, you still manufacture grammatical bullets.
"Akadu Mensema's diversionary bigot articles"?
Whether Kola or Srpong Illiteracy Guru, you still manufacture grammatical bullets.
"Akadu Mensema's diversionary bigot articles"?
SMART 10 years ago
I WISH WE HAD A GOVT THAT WOULD NOT ROB US VIA WOYOME. THAT WAS NAKED ROBBERY WHICH MUST BE CONDEMNED BY ALL !!!!! A THIEVING GOVT CAN'T TAKE GHANA ANYWHERE !!!!!!!!
I WISH WE HAD A GOVT THAT WOULD NOT ROB US VIA WOYOME. THAT WAS NAKED ROBBERY WHICH MUST BE CONDEMNED BY ALL !!!!! A THIEVING GOVT CAN'T TAKE GHANA ANYWHERE !!!!!!!!
Nana Hakim 10 years ago
Hello Kofi,
I'm beginning to think that you've begun to be partisan. In any event, Nana Akufo Addo is about to COMMIT SUICIDE before his supporters, lawyers and the Lordships. All told, the petitioner's case has been OBLIT ... read full comment
Hello Kofi,
I'm beginning to think that you've begun to be partisan. In any event, Nana Akufo Addo is about to COMMIT SUICIDE before his supporters, lawyers and the Lordships. All told, the petitioner's case has been OBLITERATED by the redoutable Tsatsu Tsikata. His journey to Kyebi to commune with his late mother began the day Philip Addison woefully failed to re-examined Dr. Bawumia.
LONG LIVE AFRICA! GOD BLESS GHANA!! LONG LIVE TSATSU TSIKATA!!! FORWARD EVER!!!!
Kwadwo 10 years ago
It seems to me Afari Djan's failure to file documentary evidence was part of the EC's prosecution strategy albeit a dangerous one. Whereas his exposé on elections is impressive, I believe he will have a tough time being dis ... read full comment
It seems to me Afari Djan's failure to file documentary evidence was part of the EC's prosecution strategy albeit a dangerous one. Whereas his exposé on elections is impressive, I believe he will have a tough time being dismissive of the numerous irregularities of the polling stations at issue. All Addison has to do is get as as many admissions from Afari Djan as possible. If he succeeds, Afari Djan and the EC will look incompetent, and he will not be smiling.
Honestman 10 years ago
Dr. Afari Djan is more intelligent than all the three petitioners and their counsels put together and in fact Kofi atah inclusive. For the same reason Atah kofi and his day-dreaming petitioners and their council thought the l ... read full comment
Dr. Afari Djan is more intelligent than all the three petitioners and their counsels put together and in fact Kofi atah inclusive. For the same reason Atah kofi and his day-dreaming petitioners and their council thought the learned Dr. Afari Djan cleverly deceived and beat them to mount the witness box will manifest in the rest of the case. In fact simply put the 9 justices, the petitioners and their counsels and indeed all their star witness are not only far more intelligent and knowledgeable than the petitioners but that they are patriotic, honest, truthful and will not allow Nana Addo who lost an election and want to use the Sc to become the president of Ghana which he is not entitled to. Kofi atah should continue his hallucination in UK and by the time he is back to normalcy, he would cursing his ass
Efo Kwaku 10 years ago
I'm lost what are you trying to say ? Because you are putting two things together here
I'm lost what are you trying to say ? Because you are putting two things together here
MATIGARI 10 years ago
KOFI,FOR ONCE, I WANT TO DISAGREE WITH YOU ON YOUR SUBMISSION. WHEN DR AFARI-GYAN QUESTIONED THE FIGURE QUOTED BY DR BAWIMIA AS THOSE WHO WERE ONLY IDENTIFIED BY FACE ONLY [FOs] HE WAS EXPRESSING SHOCK AS TO HOW HE CAME BUY T ... read full comment
KOFI,FOR ONCE, I WANT TO DISAGREE WITH YOU ON YOUR SUBMISSION. WHEN DR AFARI-GYAN QUESTIONED THE FIGURE QUOTED BY DR BAWIMIA AS THOSE WHO WERE ONLY IDENTIFIED BY FACE ONLY [FOs] HE WAS EXPRESSING SHOCK AS TO HOW HE CAME BUY THAT FIGURE. AFARI-GYAN IS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE ORIGINAL FIGURES[PRIMARY SOURCE] SO HOW COULD BAWIMIA'S FIGURE BE MORE AUTHENTIC THAN HIS [EC'S]? IT IS NEVER ANY ARROGANT BEHAVIOUR WHEN AFARI GYAN QUESTIONED HOW THE PETITIONERS CAME BY THE FIGURE. AFTERALL, THAT QUESTION WAS ONLY RHETORIC AND NO ANSWER WAS EXPECTED FROM ANYONE. SIMILARLY, IT IS GOOD YOU ALSO IDENTIFIED THAT AFFIDAVIT IS NOT THE ONLY WAY ONE CAN GIVE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE SC IN THIS MATTER.SO IT WILL NOT BE ANY HURDLE TO TENDER ANYTHING THAT IS SO RELEVANT TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE CASE SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT PIECE OF EVIDENCE WAS NOT ALREADY LAYED BEFORE THE COURT IN THE AFFIVDAVIT, THE ADMISSIBILITY OR INADMISSIBILITY OF ANYTHING IN EVIDENCE IS A QUESTION OF LAW SO LEAVE IT TO THE SC JUDGES TO DETERMINE. BY THE WAY WHO TOLD YOU THAT FIGURE IS NOT CAPTURED IN THE AFFIDAVITS ALREADY SUBMITTED TO THE COURT BY THE COMMISSION? PLEASE DO NOT PRE-EMPT THE QUESTIONS THAT THE PETITIONERS ARE LIKELY TO PUT TO AFARI-GYAN. AM SURE WHATEVER QUESTIONS ARE PUT WILL BE CLEARLY ANSWERED. AS FOR OBJECTIONS, THE PETITIONERS ALREADY HAD A TRUCK-LOAD OF THEM BUT IT DID NOT HELP THEM SO WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF OBJECTIONS.THEY ARE SPICES WITH WHICH COURT PROCEEDINGS ARE HELD.
obenfo 10 years ago
INTERESTING ARTICLE AND ARGUMNENT. WHILE WE DO NOT KNOW WHOSE FIGURES ARE RIGHT, I BELIEVE, A REVIEW OF THE OINK SHEETS WILL ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ON THE FO VOTING. DR BAWUNIA NUMBER LOOKS LIKE A CALCULATED NUMBER FROM THE PIN ... read full comment
INTERESTING ARTICLE AND ARGUMNENT. WHILE WE DO NOT KNOW WHOSE FIGURES ARE RIGHT, I BELIEVE, A REVIEW OF THE OINK SHEETS WILL ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ON THE FO VOTING. DR BAWUNIA NUMBER LOOKS LIKE A CALCULATED NUMBER FROM THE PINK SHEET TABULATION.DID THEY MISSED SOME. I DOUBT. AFARI DJAN MUST PROVE THAT THE NUMBER IS 80000. DID WE HEAR THE NUMBER OVER 500000 FO VOTING IN THE LAWYERS OF THE EC OR THE NDC EARLIER. I ALSO DON'T THINK CLAIMING THAT ALL THESE IRREGULARITY CAN BE BLAMED ON ERRORS. EVEN IF THEY ARE, THEY ARE JUST TOO MANY NOT TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTIONS. WE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY FOR A CLEAN ELECTION AND THEREFORE THE CLAIM THAT INLY A MIRACLE COULD HAVE LED TO A CLEAN ELECTIONS IS NEITHER HERE OR THERE. THE EC HAVING ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS ERRORS IN THE ELECTION, ONLY LEAVES THE SC TO DETERMINE IF THESE ERRORS WERE WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO HAVE ALTERED THE ELECTIONS. AFARI DJAN CAN SMILE ALL HE WANTS BUT HE HAS ALREADY ADMITED THAT THERE WERE ERRORS IN THE TABULATION OF THE RESULTS. EC MUST HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO SAFEGUARD ANY ELECTIONS TO SAVE OUR YOUNG AND FLEDGING DEMOCRACY.
All Die Be Die 10 years ago
Kofi I suppose you are one of those salivating for a juicy ministerial post in Nana Addo's cabinet soon to be established,eh???. Never mind you have a minority in parliament even though you are supposed to have won the electi ... read full comment
Kofi I suppose you are one of those salivating for a juicy ministerial post in Nana Addo's cabinet soon to be established,eh???. Never mind you have a minority in parliament even though you are supposed to have won the election one-touch and got robbed by the "thieves".To throw 4 million votes away so that some one can become president through the back door will usher in a chaotic period and Nana Addo will have to become a ......ruler. Well he will have been the shortest,pigmy president, most undemocratic, most arrogant leader the world has ever known....may that day never dawn on us!!!
mensah abrampa 10 years ago
Kofi Atta is a dyed in the wool NDC, having served in the previous PNDC administration. I don't like his pro NDC views most of the time but I can also appreciate some of his writings for his ingenuity. Kofi tries very hard to ... read full comment
Kofi Atta is a dyed in the wool NDC, having served in the previous PNDC administration. I don't like his pro NDC views most of the time but I can also appreciate some of his writings for his ingenuity. Kofi tries very hard to create some order within the chaos that persists on this chronic partisan website. His firm grip on what's objective and what's subjective allows him on occasion to find the patterns that will help an ideologue like you to understand what's true, what could be true and what's outright false.
I feel so sorry for you because you don't seem to understand what democracy is all about and keep equating leadership skills with physical characteristics. Keep reading pieces from Kofi Atta and he will mentor you with his knowledge and experience.Nana Addo is not mundane and he has been around the block twice.
Chabba 10 years ago
Yes, Ata Kofi the '2nd lead counsel' for the EC is telling Dr. Afari Gyan in disguise what he should prepare for to face the cross-examination from Mr. Addison. In other words, Ata Kofi is giving Dr. Afari Gyan all the 'apo' ... read full comment
Yes, Ata Kofi the '2nd lead counsel' for the EC is telling Dr. Afari Gyan in disguise what he should prepare for to face the cross-examination from Mr. Addison. In other words, Ata Kofi is giving Dr. Afari Gyan all the 'apo' he will need to withstand the cross-examination of the petitioners. Of course, Ata Kofi is a hard core NDC so what do you expect?
mensah abrampa 10 years ago
No matter the outcome of the election petition Dr. Afari Gyan's international and local reputation as one of the world's finest electoral commissioners will never remain the same again now that his job performance is under me ... read full comment
No matter the outcome of the election petition Dr. Afari Gyan's international and local reputation as one of the world's finest electoral commissioners will never remain the same again now that his job performance is under meticulous scrutiny.At the end of the day the reputation that was served him on a silver platter will never leave the Supreme Court building unscathed.
The irregularities in our electoral/voting process are just too many to be simply ignored.Afari Gyan is not a rookie electoral commissioner. He has been doing this long enough to have learned sufficiently on the job. If the electoral process is still plagued with recurring administrative inefficiencies and if avoidable voting irregularities could occur at the flick of a switch that could affect the outcome of elections then the man at the head of the EC has not done enough to earn his fat salary and must be fired.
Apart from the Black Stars head coach job the performance bar is set too low for most public officials, allowing them to get away with doing little or nothing whilst drawing fat salaries every month. Not any more for Afari Gyan. Thanks to the petitioners, Afari Gyan's stewardship and long tenure as the EC boss has come under public scrutiny and despite his cockiness he will fall flat on his face. Let's put the chronic partisanship aside and rid the system of all the Afari Gyans who are impeding the national progress. Afari Gyan will be laughing at the wrong side of his mouth when it's all over.
KK 10 years ago
However, remember that the FO group of voters are the only people that did not need the BVM,and the petitioners are are seeking to annul over 700,000 votes in this category, therefore even if all the 80,000 of such voters vot ... read full comment
However, remember that the FO group of voters are the only people that did not need the BVM,and the petitioners are are seeking to annul over 700,000 votes in this category, therefore even if all the 80,000 of such voters voted, EC still has questions to answer.
B.S 10 years ago
It is true one cannot pretend to be what he is not for long. Kofi try as were to be in the middle in your earlier write - ups, it is beginning to show your natural leneage to the right perhaps unconciousely. You can't cheat n ... read full comment
It is true one cannot pretend to be what he is not for long. Kofi try as were to be in the middle in your earlier write - ups, it is beginning to show your natural leneage to the right perhaps unconciousely. You can't cheat nature however, you are a good writer! Am waiting to see how you will treat the cross examination.
Mela papa, gubre valley cottage 10 years ago
What is cheeky about 'I don't know where he got that figure from'? Kwaseato,aburokyire nso yetena gyimi sei?
What is cheeky about 'I don't know where he got that figure from'? Kwaseato,aburokyire nso yetena gyimi sei?
Efo Kwaku 10 years ago
Some of those guys came by ndc means so allow them ,they are entitled to their opinion but it hurts when intelligence guy like Ata is blind and don't want to called spade a spade
Some of those guys came by ndc means so allow them ,they are entitled to their opinion but it hurts when intelligence guy like Ata is blind and don't want to called spade a spade
MAHAMA AKONFEM 10 years ago
CORRUPT,EMPTY HEAD,USELESS MAHAMA TO BENINGING TO THINK THAT HE DEGO K3K3,MAHAMA CAN NOT TAKE GHANA ANYWHERE,COLLAPSING GHANA,TOOOOO MUCH GANGATUA CORRUOTION,MORE DEPTS,MORE GAYS AS HIM AND VEEP,GOD SAVE GHANA PERIOD
CORRUPT,EMPTY HEAD,USELESS MAHAMA TO BENINGING TO THINK THAT HE DEGO K3K3,MAHAMA CAN NOT TAKE GHANA ANYWHERE,COLLAPSING GHANA,TOOOOO MUCH GANGATUA CORRUOTION,MORE DEPTS,MORE GAYS AS HIM AND VEEP,GOD SAVE GHANA PERIOD
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
Kofi, you are right and I am glad you have pointed out the issue of biometric verification which Dr Gyan clarified on examination. Most people missed the real definition of biomeric verification. At airports, when biometric i ... read full comment
Kofi, you are right and I am glad you have pointed out the issue of biometric verification which Dr Gyan clarified on examination. Most people missed the real definition of biomeric verification. At airports, when biometric information if being taken from individuals, they often take finger prints, and THEN ask you to LOOK IN THE CAMERA for FACIAL PRINT.
Since these are all parts of one's anatomy (bio) and therefore are supposed to bear SKIN CREASES (which are the unigue features i.e. the metric), plus the fact that facial verification also gives crucial IRIS data from the eyes, they together form the biometric ID.
The answer to your question therefore about "annulling votes only by facial recognition" is simply NO in my view. First, it supports the EC's argument that NO ONE voted without "biometric verification" (since FO is part of biometric verification).
Secondly it is inconceivable that anyone could argue successfully that just because a person (through no fault of theirs) could not provide "full" biometric verification i.e. Face plus finger prints, therefore they should be disqualified.
Ideally facial verification should be done without make-up, and those wearing glasses and contact lenses should remove them but that is just by the way.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Paul, Prof Kuruk and I were the first to postulate on Ghanaweb that the "No Verification, No Vote" is unconstitutional because it contravenes the right to vote enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. It does not matter whether it ... read full comment
Paul, Prof Kuruk and I were the first to postulate on Ghanaweb that the "No Verification, No Vote" is unconstitutional because it contravenes the right to vote enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. It does not matter whether it was in the CI 75 or not. Once it contravenes the Constitution it should be ruled unconstitutional.
Even if there was no Face Only biometric verification and a voter was reasonably identified by the manual process (name, age, date of birth, address, photo ID, etc) which correspond with information on the voters' register at the polling station on the day of election and s/he was allowed to vote, it will be unconstitutional to annual his or her vote. The question the Justices should ask and answer is, was it reasonably possible to identify a registered voter by other means without necessarily causing double voting and if the answer is yes, the NVNV should be ruled unconstitutional. That was and still my position.
That position has been strengthened since I became aware that it was possible for biometric verification to be done through Face Only recognition in this particular case before the SC. Therefore, all those who voted through Face Only recognition, those votes cannot be annulled.
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
Thank you. My point here is that even if you go by the CI 75, the EC has argued all along that people voted with verification (presumably biometric). however as you have explained, and as I have also previously argued, the in ... read full comment
Thank you. My point here is that even if you go by the CI 75, the EC has argued all along that people voted with verification (presumably biometric). however as you have explained, and as I have also previously argued, the introduction of 'new technology' to aid the voting process must in no way violate people's constitutional right to vote.
This is why I have always believed that the arguments of the petitioners asking for the annulment of over 4 million votes is rather questionable, unless of course they can prove that those 4 million plus were in fact, non-existent, or that they were not QUALIFIED to vote.
The proof of both is in my view a tall order for the petitioners and it is for those reasons that I believe unless they can prove massive and systematic fraud, the justices cannot rule on their side.
Kwamina 10 years ago
I disagree with both of you. The question which the Supreme Court would have to address is whether there were people who voted without biometric who were originally supposed to vote by biometric verification. If the response ... read full comment
I disagree with both of you. The question which the Supreme Court would have to address is whether there were people who voted without biometric who were originally supposed to vote by biometric verification. If the response is affirmative, then the question would be why this was the case? None of the Respondents, in my view, would be able to respond satisfactorily to this question.If this happens, all that the Petitioners have to do is argue that the absence of a proper response affects the integrity of the alleged votes and thus should be annulled.
Visco 10 years ago
The protests that greeted Afari Djan'a participation in this court case after all the initial insults is
enough testimony that he will not only be smilling but also dancing after the case.
He has been fantastic, unlike Ba ... read full comment
The protests that greeted Afari Djan'a participation in this court case after all the initial insults is
enough testimony that he will not only be smilling but also dancing after the case.
He has been fantastic, unlike Baumia and cone-headed Addison.
C.Y. ANDY-K 10 years ago
I made an exception to read haphazardly thru Kofi's piece, as I don't bother to read things on this ongoing circus, and just want to say this.
Knowing Dr Afari Djan as my former lecturer, I can say that always having a ch ... read full comment
I made an exception to read haphazardly thru Kofi's piece, as I don't bother to read things on this ongoing circus, and just want to say this.
Knowing Dr Afari Djan as my former lecturer, I can say that always having a cheeky smile is his persona and he'd be at his cheekiest best under cross examination.
As for the reasons why Kofi thinks he might not be, it is simply an indulgence in speculative analysis, using unlikely hypothetical assumptions. We can safely dismiss them as unwarranted.
Andy-K
Efo Kwaku 10 years ago
Kofi don't pretend as if you are making a point even illiterate after listening to Djan know how elections are been rigged in Ghana. Have you see a facial smiles before? I'm in Canada and I had numerous experiences buddy
Kofi don't pretend as if you are making a point even illiterate after listening to Djan know how elections are been rigged in Ghana. Have you see a facial smiles before? I'm in Canada and I had numerous experiences buddy
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
Are you one of those "illiterates" you claim "know that the election was rigged"? And you are "sitting in Canada"? God truly help us!!! Why are we in court if "even illiterates know there was rigging"? You need to get away fr ... read full comment
Are you one of those "illiterates" you claim "know that the election was rigged"? And you are "sitting in Canada"? God truly help us!!! Why are we in court if "even illiterates know there was rigging"? You need to get away from these rather unhelpful comments. I sincerely hope you have not been brainwashed into thinking this way yourself.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Good afternoon, Ady. What is wrong with been speculative and hypothetical? I appreciate that there are a number of unknown factors such as, how Mr Addison conducts his cross examination, whether when he objects to evidence be ... read full comment
Good afternoon, Ady. What is wrong with been speculative and hypothetical? I appreciate that there are a number of unknown factors such as, how Mr Addison conducts his cross examination, whether when he objects to evidence being tendered by EC, he will be successful or unsuccessful, etc. I do not know who will have the last laugh but if you say Dr Afari Gyan will, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and wait till it's all over.
Yeabr3 _Mo 10 years ago
The import of some of the issues Ata Kofi bothers to raise in some his writings. Firstly,if the court had taken a prior decision to allow individuals or organizations to get evidence, what is really the point in making such a ... read full comment
The import of some of the issues Ata Kofi bothers to raise in some his writings. Firstly,if the court had taken a prior decision to allow individuals or organizations to get evidence, what is really the point in making such a big fuss about the issue of fairness? Is Dr Afari Gyan simply going to give his oral evidence and then walk away? If he wants to "appease" certain indidividuals who have tagges as an NDC man,he is free to state that bodly,and then proceed to'mend' fences with his critics. That is his right,but this wishy-washy("motromodwo" style)is not going to help anybody!
Can anybody recall those(including one of the Justices) who were literally taunting Dr Afari Gyan for being an 'MIA' in these proceedings,even at the interlocutory stage? And why would Addison be asking for directions when the position of the SC on the matter had been made known to all,except himself and the 'gang' of three sitting on the panel? In my book,a vote is taken to either over-rule or sustain an object raised by counsel;so let`s not indulge in semantics!
Now again,it seems to me Ata Kofi is doing his utmost to please the new constituency he wants to court,otherwise I do not see the justification in questioning the EC Chaiman`s intergrity at all. He may choose not to like the man,but he should not needlessly give aid and comfort to those who had earlier branded him a THIEF,a GHc 35 million bribe-taker,and someone who attempted to seek 'refuge' in Canada in the immediate afermath of the results declaration,but was denied entry,and 'repartraited' to Ghana.
Perhaps Ata Kofi,given his rich resume in training judges and magistrates in the UK,should put in an application to take over from Dr. Afari Gyan, and thereby ensure that we have error-free elections going forward! If the 'output' of a tightly-knit group of highly-trained forensic accountants,math- wizards,as well as "legal luminaries" that money can buy in this country is anything to go by,then I wish him 'tons' of luck!
Ananga J 10 years ago
We are all waiting for the cross examination but I can bet Addison cannot ask the EC boss any intelligent question to make him 'screw up' his face as the writer wants to believe.
We are all waiting for the cross examination but I can bet Addison cannot ask the EC boss any intelligent question to make him 'screw up' his face as the writer wants to believe.
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
In posing your question, you seem to focus primarily on cross examination by counsel for the petitioners. Are counsels for 1st and 3rd respondents also allowed to cross examine the witness in this case? What's your take on th ... read full comment
In posing your question, you seem to focus primarily on cross examination by counsel for the petitioners. Are counsels for 1st and 3rd respondents also allowed to cross examine the witness in this case? What's your take on that, and if the answer is yes, your in your view, is that likely to influence proceedings especially in respect of the very central issue of hard evidence that you have raised here?
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Paul, the answer to your question is a definite yes. However from what has transpired in court so far, lead counsels for first and third respondents' cross examination of witness/es for the 2nd respondent will not be adversar ... read full comment
Paul, the answer to your question is a definite yes. However from what has transpired in court so far, lead counsels for first and third respondents' cross examination of witness/es for the 2nd respondent will not be adversarial. If they decides to take up the opportunity, they are most likely to solicit clarification on areas where their witness (Asiedu Nketia) was not clear and where Bawumia might have misled the court.
I say so because at one time the the three lead counsels for the respondents teamed up effectively against Addison during his cross examination of Asiedu Nketia and his re-examination of Bawumia. In fact, their tactics was similar to a pride of lions in the Sarengeti. The pride is made two females (Lithur and Tsatsu) who worked together to make the kill and the lone male (Idun) comes to join the feast (by the way they raised objections). The three are partners by default as Mr Quarshie Idun took (dis)advantage of his cross examination of Asiedu Nketia to undo any damage and had to be stopped by Mr Addison. That is what I understand made Nana Akufo Addo walk to Mr Addison in court to ask him to object to what Mr Idun was doing.
Paul Amuna 10 years ago
Yes, there is a clear pattern of "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" here hence my question. It will be interesting to see how things develop.
Yes, there is a clear pattern of "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" here hence my question. It will be interesting to see how things develop.
obenfo 10 years ago
The fact that EC lawyers are working closely with NDC lawyers is so wrong I cannot understand why. Is there no conflict here?. I am not a lawyer and I need help because, Clearly the NDC is coniving with EC and I find this ver ... read full comment
The fact that EC lawyers are working closely with NDC lawyers is so wrong I cannot understand why. Is there no conflict here?. I am not a lawyer and I need help because, Clearly the NDC is coniving with EC and I find this very dangerous to our future elections. Am I the only one sensing danger here?
Oko 10 years ago
Congrats to Kofi Ata for succeeding in being classified as a sympathiser of both the Petitioners and the Respondents. To me that is a sign of his objectivity regardless of whose case he truly believes in
Congrats to Kofi Ata for succeeding in being classified as a sympathiser of both the Petitioners and the Respondents. To me that is a sign of his objectivity regardless of whose case he truly believes in
Vuvuzela 10 years ago
“My big question to Afari Gyan is, will he still be all smiles and cheeky in the witness box after Mr Addison has had his bite of the cherry with him?”
I find it very unbelievable that you should ask such a question. O ... read full comment
“My big question to Afari Gyan is, will he still be all smiles and cheeky in the witness box after Mr Addison has had his bite of the cherry with him?”
I find it very unbelievable that you should ask such a question. One thing I cherish in life is TRUTH and that is where I have always had problems. The reason is that, the majority of people living in this world abhor it. In Africa, this gives a “reasonable” population of about 99.9%. Reasonable because it explains why for a long time the continent will NEVER make any stride.
Afari-Djan is a master of a job he’s been doing for a long time. He said it was impossible to have cheated to have cheated with the system in place. Up to now we see him as consistent. If he is telling the truth then I doubt there’s anyone who could destabilize his bearing; it just suffices he sticks to what he’s been saying all along: The indivisible Truth.
I even find it funny he’s not been laughing all the way. NPP accused the EC about excessive voters abroad, and here comes Afari-Gyan to clear the doubts with an emphatic assertion that not even a single soul voted outside. In his place what would you do with such figures churn out of nowhere to taint your name?
Afari-Djan goes into that box thinking about Akufo-Addo and his bunch of sore losers as people with no shame or wits. What questions will Addison ask?
The law governing the organization and polls are still the same and didn’t change overnight because Addison is going to interrogate Afari-Gyan. Addison couldn’t break Mosquito.
“The fact is that, the petitioners do not believe his figures and that is why they are in court.”
So Afari-Gyan should weep because NPP does not believe his figures OR he should give figures NPP could accept, and so declare Nana Addo the president, even if those figures are false?
Kofi 10 years ago
I disagree with assertion that once the temporary election officers were trained they would not commit mistakes or trans-positional errors. Why come that some of a group of students who were taught by the same teacher failed. ... read full comment
I disagree with assertion that once the temporary election officers were trained they would not commit mistakes or trans-positional errors. Why come that some of a group of students who were taught by the same teacher failed. Don't forget, Afari Gyan said that transpositions are normally rectified at the collation centres before the final result are sent to the EC headquarters. It is also emerging that the so called mistakes on the pink sheets are not the figures used in the declaration. The lower part of the pink sheets has the number of votes obtained by each candidate and that was what was used in the declaration and that was the crux of the matter, not mistakes in election accounting.
Okonko Palm 10 years ago
There are so many erroneous statements in this write up.For example to say that it is Afari Gyan who is disputing the figures so the onus will be on him to disprove bawumiah's figures,is strange to me.The EC has on official r ... read full comment
There are so many erroneous statements in this write up.For example to say that it is Afari Gyan who is disputing the figures so the onus will be on him to disprove bawumiah's figures,is strange to me.The EC has on official record of the figurers of the FO so if Bawumia is saying differently,then it will up to him to prove the allegation and not the other way round.
You rightly said the supreme court has the power to vary its directives when it is in the interest of justice to do so.This exercise is unlike a normal court procedure,what the supreme court is looking for is the truth so Afari Gyan will be given the opportunity to explain the electoral process to the court.If there is the need to support his explanation with documents,the court will allow it unless their probative value will not help the court to arrive at the truth.
Sometimes we forget that we have few functional literates.That is not an indictment on the ec but probably the approach to education in Ghana so these errors can not be avoidable for some time to come since the real functional literates would not want to be agents on the pittance they pay.
The Question of irregularities had not been established so what you call too many mistakes for comfort are born out of the education system.You can not hold the ec responsible for the poor literary standard in the system. Most of your fears are misplaced since the powers of the sc are capable of addressing them.More importantly,the ec had nothing to hide,the election was transparent and was free and fair so the ec has nothing to fear.
Alhaji 10 years ago
Some men are dangerous.Do you want to tell us that Dr.Afari Gyan do not have anything to prove his case or what?.You have disgrace your knowledge here.How can he come to tell the whole world a story,are you mad,do not write n ... read full comment
Some men are dangerous.Do you want to tell us that Dr.Afari Gyan do not have anything to prove his case or what?.You have disgrace your knowledge here.How can he come to tell the whole world a story,are you mad,do not write nonsense please Ata Kofi.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Alhaji, for your information, I did not say that Dr Afari Gyan does not have anything to prove what he been saying in court. Instead, I said the documentary evidence were not filed with the court in advance as was directed. T ... read full comment
Alhaji, for your information, I did not say that Dr Afari Gyan does not have anything to prove what he been saying in court. Instead, I said the documentary evidence were not filed with the court in advance as was directed. That means if the EC wants to tender them in court, lead counsel for the petitioners can and will object to them and the Justices will have to rule whether to admit the evidence or not and to me, that is a high risk strategy. Take your time to digest the contents before making judgement. Those who make false accusations are the dangerous ones.
Cisco 10 years ago
If Dr.Afari Gyan has any documentary evidence why didn,t he file it with the court as directed.A very big shame to him and the NDC Party.
If Dr.Afari Gyan has any documentary evidence why didn,t he file it with the court as directed.A very big shame to him and the NDC Party.
Richie Cobb 10 years ago
This is a really good piece of work and I think responsible Ghanaians should think in the categories of Mr Ata instead of thoughtless ,nonsensical and partisan condemnations of serious thinking contributors.
This is a really good piece of work and I think responsible Ghanaians should think in the categories of Mr Ata instead of thoughtless ,nonsensical and partisan condemnations of serious thinking contributors.
THE AUDITOR 10 years ago
Kofi, once again, that's a nice balanced piece. We are all waiting for the cross-examination of the EC Chairman. Unfortunately though the past performance of the lead counsel of the Petitioners in cross-examinations cannot be ... read full comment
Kofi, once again, that's a nice balanced piece. We are all waiting for the cross-examination of the EC Chairman. Unfortunately though the past performance of the lead counsel of the Petitioners in cross-examinations cannot be said to be exemplary. Nevertheless he may wake up to the fact that the real case has now started and choose to go for the jaguar .
Kofi, going by the way the Chairman has started, I see benefits in EC not filing their own exhibits. It is the petitioners' exhibits who have the hurdle of preponderance of proof. What the EC has to do is to use the expert knowledge of the Chairman to explain away most of the so-called irregularities on the ballot accounting side of the pink sheets.
To give one example the Petitioners have some 11,000 pink sheets in evidence of which some 7000 are due purely to duplicate serial numbers and let's say another 1500 lack acceptable signatures of Presiding Officers. In my view these two categories may prove difficult to pass the threshold of a STATUTORY IRREGULARITY OR MALPRACTICE. If am right, and admittedly a big IF, the Witness will spend more tome on overvotes and NVNV making up an estimated 2,500 pink sheets or less than 10% of the total universe of pink sheets.
The fact that the Petitioners appear to have missed the true number of FOVs and the fact that Column C3 on the ballot accounting form was meant to be zero as the correct number, I believe substantial number of the pink sheets exhibited by the Petitioners in the remaining categories can be explained away. So given the above the percentage of total genuine errors in ballot accounting not challenged at the polling stations, begin to dwindle to a level of a statistically acceptable level of standard deviation. In all the above assumptions, we are have not dealt with the definition of how errors, omissions, irregularities etc, pass the test of the Statutory 'qualification'.
The Chairman has already laid down little traps of what he understands to be an irregularity. For example, as far he is ware, if the ballot accounting forms A and B were not completed before voting starts, that will amount to an irregularity. Also, if Section B is not completed before counting of votes cast, this will be an irregularity. In my view, apart from Asiedu Nketia getting it wrong in these categories in his evidence, its going to be awfully difficult to prove those irregularities in the absence of protests! Clever? In other words we are still far away from statutory violations status of the remaining undischarged 'irregularities' which the judges are waiting to seek their teeth into.
Perhaps, by far the biggest challenge faced by this Petition is it's loud silence on the actual accounting for votes cast. The only reference to the actual votes is only when they are to be annulled wholesale. Does it mean that apart from say 3 to 4% of polling stations where ballots counted exceed ballot issued by single digits, and the discrepancies were not reconciled on the spot, the whole election is invalidated. Or do we conclude that in the 4% of all the polling stations where voting was allowed by face only verification where finger print verification would have been more appropriate(legal), the national results are so vitiated, Ghanaians may have to go back and say re-vote?
You see, for some of us the above hurdles are what we are expecting to be established through the Chairman's oral evidence, using the pink sheets already in evidence. Similarly it is these matters that we expect cross-examination to debunk conclusively. If the above is anywhere near acceptable, then in my view, what has happened in court to date is child's play.
Finally, what to my mind should have happened instead of an audit of pink sheets is for Petitioners to sit down with the EC, and seek explanation for apparent discrepancies in the ballot reconciliation parts of the pink sheets. Its only when this is done and Petitioners are still unhappy that, ideally the law lords, in my humble opinion, come in.
To my lay mind, as long as the actually of votes etc were note questioned, then we are simply still in a discovery stage, where really the EC has more of the cards and therefore an unfair advantage.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
AUDITOR, from your contribution, I assume the EC adopted a deliberate strategy to surprise the petitioners. Even Dr Afari Gyan not swearing an affidavit and suddenly taking the witness box instead of his deputy who signed the ... read full comment
AUDITOR, from your contribution, I assume the EC adopted a deliberate strategy to surprise the petitioners. Even Dr Afari Gyan not swearing an affidavit and suddenly taking the witness box instead of his deputy who signed the affidavit. If that was the case, what happened the rule of no surprises in court? It can also work to the advantage of the petitioners if their lead counsel is able to successful object to documentary evidence being tendered in court by the EC. Let's wait and see what happens.
THE AUDITOR 10 years ago
Cannot say if this was deliberate but still cannot see what the downside for the EC is. First of all, deliberate or not, it has already had a major impact on the preparedness of the Petitioners.
Kofi, apologies for my sev ... read full comment
Cannot say if this was deliberate but still cannot see what the downside for the EC is. First of all, deliberate or not, it has already had a major impact on the preparedness of the Petitioners.
Kofi, apologies for my several typos, but don't you think a better strategy is for the EC to punch holes in the Petitioners' exhibits rather introduce his own?
Yeabr3 _Mo 10 years ago
Smart be 'cherry-picking' polling stations that,based on Bawumiah`s contrived analysis,would disproportionately 'hurt' John Mahama,and allow their candidate emerge the winner! As you have pointed alluded to earlier,the petiti ... read full comment
Smart be 'cherry-picking' polling stations that,based on Bawumiah`s contrived analysis,would disproportionately 'hurt' John Mahama,and allow their candidate emerge the winner! As you have pointed alluded to earlier,the petitioners were counting on bamboozling the Justices with their fancy spreasheets depicting their so-called high coefficients between their 'trumped-up'categories of malfeasance without addressing the question of votes cast,counted,and declared in full view of the general public.
in my view, the EC called the bluff of the petitioners to put Dr. Afari Gyan on the stand,and that is precisely what it has done! And honestly,inspite of all his legal training,I cannot see Addison matching the EC chairman in wits,NEVER,and am damn certain about that!
Whatever 10 years ago
The obligation of the EC in court is NOT to challenge Bawumia's inapplicable figures but rather to vigorously defend its own applicable figures which is in the gazette recognized by law. Second is your presupposition that an ... read full comment
The obligation of the EC in court is NOT to challenge Bawumia's inapplicable figures but rather to vigorously defend its own applicable figures which is in the gazette recognized by law. Second is your presupposition that an irregularity occurred.... That is completely wrong. Listen to Afari Gyan carefully. He says that the so called pink sheet is a DOCUMENT which means that you have to analyse it in a WHOLE rather than in parts to get a full picture. If the number of ballot issued on record is less than that of vote cast, the spoiled ballot or even an omission of it in filling the forms could account for it. These are human errors which is bound to occur given our illiteracy rate. 50% illiteracy rate will in no way exclude itself from that exercise. Why do you think that in most cases the discrepant figure was 1 or 2 or 3 or 4?
John Anamse 10 years ago
I seem to disagree with your position on Afari Gyan testifying without an Affidavit but needs your further clairification.
My opinion that the EC was sued as an organisation and my knowledge is that a legal person unlike a ... read full comment
I seem to disagree with your position on Afari Gyan testifying without an Affidavit but needs your further clairification.
My opinion that the EC was sued as an organisation and my knowledge is that a legal person unlike a natural person can be represented by officers of that organisation.
In my opinion, the affidavit sworn by any of the other officers is an affidavit of the EC and can be seen as an Affidavit sworn by EC and could equally be seen as an affidavit of Afari Gyan as officer of the EC.
Afari Gyan as officer of the Company is bound by an affidavit sworn by any other officer unless he has been personally sued which is not the case here
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
John, to some extent you are right that Afari Gyan represents the EC, which he heads. However, he is not giving evidence on the sworn affidavit/s of his two deputies but giving evidence in his own right. It is possible that o ... read full comment
John, to some extent you are right that Afari Gyan represents the EC, which he heads. However, he is not giving evidence on the sworn affidavit/s of his two deputies but giving evidence in his own right. It is possible that one of the two deputies may give evidence on the sworn affidavit/s.
However, because the SC ruled that only the principals can give oral evidence in court, Afari Gyan is complying with that order and there is nothing wrong with that.
Kobena 10 years ago
Auditor,
Your post makes very interesting reading. Dr Afari-Djan's definition of "over voting" will be interesting. Remember that that category alone throws the election into re-run, according to figures posted by the petiti ... read full comment
Auditor,
Your post makes very interesting reading. Dr Afari-Djan's definition of "over voting" will be interesting. Remember that that category alone throws the election into re-run, according to figures posted by the petitioners.
Secondly, in an elction in which the difference between the winner and the challenger is less than 2%, an error of just 4% is hugely significant.
Crry the beloved country!
THE AUDITOR 10 years ago
Oh my God, the 4% is my estimate of human errors in completing ballot accounting forms. The case is actually a confusing one. The idea that even a genuine clerical or administratively error translates into vote is a novelty i ... read full comment
Oh my God, the 4% is my estimate of human errors in completing ballot accounting forms. The case is actually a confusing one. The idea that even a genuine clerical or administratively error translates into vote is a novelty in this case. The two cannot be equated, in my view. If the court does that then clearly we can never hold any successful election in future without the involvement of the courts. That would be unfortunate!
The statutory nature of the errors is the main issue before the courts. The novelty of annulment of votes is a constitutional minefield so the 4% has to be related to the nature of the errors or irregularities and the universe we are talking about.
Good reading!
Kobena 10 years ago
Auditor,
I have just gone back to look at some officcial EC statistics:
Upper East: Registered No of Voters: 398,411
No of ballots issued: 1,679,295 or 321% extra ballot papers.
Upper West: Registered No of Voters: 26 ... read full comment
Auditor,
I have just gone back to look at some officcial EC statistics:
Upper East: Registered No of Voters: 398,411
No of ballots issued: 1,679,295 or 321% extra ballot papers.
Upper West: Registered No of Voters: 263,838
No of Ballots issued: 536,561 or 103% extra ballot papers.
Western Region; Registered No of Voters: 715,381
No of ballots issued: 1,745,952 or 244%.
The statutory requirement, if we can call it that, is 10% etra. So why was it necessary to issue such large numbers of extra ballot papers to these regions? And these were the three regions where the most "infractions" occurred. Dr Afari-Djan is going to have a hard time convincing ordinary Ghanaians like myself, with the most basic knowledge of statistics and mthematics, that his outfit or some people in his outfit did not plan a grand sheme to take Ghanaians for a very dangerous ride.
That is why I weep for my country!
John Anamse 10 years ago
Assuming without admitting that 400% more ballots were issued to the 3 regions instead of 10%, what is the proof that it led to more votes issued to one candidate to the detriment of the other candidate.
The court will no ... read full comment
Assuming without admitting that 400% more ballots were issued to the 3 regions instead of 10%, what is the proof that it led to more votes issued to one candidate to the detriment of the other candidate.
The court will not just rely on such wild speculations without proof of how the excess ballots issued led to duplicated votes.
As far as the case has gone in court, no evidence has been provided on how excess ballots issued went into the ballot box
Kobena 10 years ago
Oh you did not hear of Asiedu Nketia's "foreign material" claim? What did you think those foreign materials were? How about the resort to "administrative or transpositional errors?"
I sincerely hope the judges are more dis ... read full comment
Oh you did not hear of Asiedu Nketia's "foreign material" claim? What did you think those foreign materials were? How about the resort to "administrative or transpositional errors?"
I sincerely hope the judges are more discerning than Asiedu Nketia, Afari-Djan or a lot of people who come to Ghanaweb.
Cry the beloved country!
John Anamse 10 years ago
Kobena, I understand your point but note the following;
Asiedu Nketiah for lack of the appropriate expression said there were foreign material to be removed from the Box but what he really meant is that if the Total Ballot ... read full comment
Kobena, I understand your point but note the following;
Asiedu Nketiah for lack of the appropriate expression said there were foreign material to be removed from the Box but what he really meant is that if the Total Ballots in the Box exceed the Total Ballots issued, then it could only mean that somebody brought some other ballot papers from somewhere else.
He further stated that in that instance, it is possible to detect and reomve that foreign material and he gave some examples of how that could be done.
I can assure you that with th Biometric register data base, it will be possible to take a ballot box and with the help of other technological systems, detect and remove those "foreign ballots"
You could also look at re arranging all the ballots by their serial numbers order and pick out the "foreign materials"
We now have a fool-proof ballot system and we should be praising ourselves and Afari Gyan rather that throw our achievements to the dogs.
Kobena 10 years ago
You don't believe that those "extra ballot papers" have any effect on the election? If at a certain polling station, 100 people were registered and 80 turned up to vote on the day and were given 80 ballot papers, 5 of which w ... read full comment
You don't believe that those "extra ballot papers" have any effect on the election? If at a certain polling station, 100 people were registered and 80 turned up to vote on the day and were given 80 ballot papers, 5 of which were damaged and we still have 85 ballot papers in the ballot box at the end of voting, you do not believe that anything untoward had happened at that station?
I thought that was the pettitioners' case? Mind you results at ccertain polling stations were actually annuled for those reasons and Afari-Djan himself spelt that out before the election.
obenfo 10 years ago
We do have a full proof system so what happened here. Why are we getting different numbers on FO voters. I heard over 500000 FO votes from earlier admission. Now Afari Djan says the number is 80000. DR. bawumia. Tally from pi ... read full comment
We do have a full proof system so what happened here. Why are we getting different numbers on FO voters. I heard over 500000 FO votes from earlier admission. Now Afari Djan says the number is 80000. DR. bawumia. Tally from pink sheet shows just over 3000. Why is everybody admiting errors and praying the court that these errors should be allowes and accepted in the land. We spent so much money for a clean elections so it is a disgrace for EC to come out and say only a miracle could have negated errors. Where are the checks and balances when vote count exceed ballot issued?. Are these mere errors? I don't think so.
tiger shark 10 years ago
his smile will even be much bigger
his smile will even be much bigger
Kobena 10 years ago
Kofi,
This is an excellent piece. I am also waiting to hear how Dr Afari-Djan defines "over voting", his explanation for the duplicate polling stations whereby two or three results were declared for a single polling station ... read full comment
Kofi,
This is an excellent piece. I am also waiting to hear how Dr Afari-Djan defines "over voting", his explanation for the duplicate polling stations whereby two or three results were declared for a single polling station, and how the numerous "transposition errors" only occcured in certain constituencies.
For a man with that smirk on his face, it is really amazing to hear him say that after nearly 20 years in charge of elections in Ghana, he has not trained a single person in the conduct of elactions. Where did all that money from state coffers and international donors go then?
Can you imagine the Managing Director of Electricity Corporation of Ghana announcing to Ghanaians that the reason why we have so many fires in Ghana is because the staff of ECG who lay electric cables to peopl'e homes are not trained, or the Managing Director of Ghana Water Company saying that he actually uses market women and painters to lay pipes in Ghana?
Yes, the case is not over yet, especially since Dr Bawumia got all his information from the EEC's own documents and the EC did not bother to provide evidence of its own.
Cry the beloved country!
John Anamse 10 years ago
Please note that Afari Gyan referred to transpositional errors committed at the Collation Centre but not at the Poliing Station or on Pink Sheets.
The errors referred to by the Petitioners all relate to polling station err ... read full comment
Please note that Afari Gyan referred to transpositional errors committed at the Collation Centre but not at the Poliing Station or on Pink Sheets.
The errors referred to by the Petitioners all relate to polling station errors but not Collation centre errors. Afari Gyan therefore needs not explain anything in that regard.
Secondly your analogy of Electricity Company is inappropriate as Afari Gyan requires temporary staff to work for 2-3 days whereas the ECG Boss must employ permanent staff
Kobena 10 years ago
Oh temporary staff for 20 years?
That is astonishing. Where has all the money gone then?
Do you not realise that the petitioners' case actually hinges on the activities at the polling stations, over voting (aka foreign ma ... read full comment
Oh temporary staff for 20 years?
That is astonishing. Where has all the money gone then?
Do you not realise that the petitioners' case actually hinges on the activities at the polling stations, over voting (aka foreign materials in the ballot box), voting without biometric veification and non-signing of pink sheets at the polling station?
That is why I cry for my beloved country!
Sam Cherbuh. 10 years ago
This is waste of time at the Supreme Court.He should tell NPP that they will win the next election. I hope this will bring a closure to the whole nonsense.
This is waste of time at the Supreme Court.He should tell NPP that they will win the next election. I hope this will bring a closure to the whole nonsense.
Whatever 10 years ago
Asking for directions of court which meant that Afari Gyan could not begin his testimony until its determination is a CLEAR LEGAL OBJECTION and I don't know why Kofi Atta is understating that fact. And I don't know whether Ko ... read full comment
Asking for directions of court which meant that Afari Gyan could not begin his testimony until its determination is a CLEAR LEGAL OBJECTION and I don't know why Kofi Atta is understating that fact. And I don't know whether Kofi Atta haven't read the EC affidavit in connection with those human errors. The EC explained that the carbon copy that was used in making photocopies of pink-sheet was sometimes not sandwiched firmly so as to capture the details onto the other copies. So we could have a situation where a figure or a signature might appear on the ORIGINAL PINK SHEETS that the EC has but won't show on the copies given to the parties. Sometimes writers should do a little bit of research before putting the thoughts on the computer
kb 10 years ago
That is a good question but my worry is the lies that Afari Gyan told about and would continue about why he claimed questions on the pink sheets were not to be answered so why were they there?if he comes clean on these then i ... read full comment
That is a good question but my worry is the lies that Afari Gyan told about and would continue about why he claimed questions on the pink sheets were not to be answered so why were they there?if he comes clean on these then i bet he would not smile.Am sure the voters register had the FO with the names of those who cannot use their fingures so why cant they be counted and the number known? Just like the foreign votes what happened?
New Ekuma 10 years ago
Bawumia shd put his finger in the ANUS of the PINK shits so he can locate his damn mother fucker TRUMULOUS evidence . Nonsense
Bawumia shd put his finger in the ANUS of the PINK shits so he can locate his damn mother fucker TRUMULOUS evidence . Nonsense
John Anamse 10 years ago
Kofi, once more you have done a good job. You may not be completely right as you have not been able to fully follow the unravelling of this case but your article is thought provoking and has attracted a lot of intelligent res ... read full comment
Kofi, once more you have done a good job. You may not be completely right as you have not been able to fully follow the unravelling of this case but your article is thought provoking and has attracted a lot of intelligent responses. Forget about the few insults though.
I agree with you that the EC needs to be able to provide evidence where it disagrees with the Petitioners.
I also agree with you that the NBNV allegations is becoming a tall order for the Petitoners to prove. Even if they can prove it, they still have to cross the barrier of existing case law which has sought to defend the right to vote when a voter can prove his registration. Beyound this and as the SC has decided to rule this case in respect of the extent to which the irregularities affected the results, the Petitioners must also be able to prove that by-passing the Biometric verification led to multiple voting by particular voters.
Let us remember that the Biometric voting system has established a data base that can be used to detect multiple voting, even long after the day of voting.
Proving that none use of BMV led to over-voting is going to be a Tall Order for the petitioners.
I do not think the SC will simply cancel all votes just because somebody made a law, either legally or not and whether that law contracdicts the supreme law of the Ghana or not.
jimmyk 10 years ago
Kofi you are 100percent right and it's only the truth. But the way they are handling this court issue there is is hidden truth somewhere. I will advise that you always have to published your point of view before any SC procee ... read full comment
Kofi you are 100percent right and it's only the truth. But the way they are handling this court issue there is is hidden truth somewhere. I will advise that you always have to published your point of view before any SC proceedings so that they can learn a lesson. Thanks and keep it up
Vodoo 10 years ago
Afari Djan will be the happiest man on earth after the Supreme Court vedict. lol
Afari Djan will be the happiest man on earth after the Supreme Court vedict. lol
bookmarks 10 years ago
Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Afari Djan has all the facts and Figures so this is not a big deal.
Npp has no more straw to clutch on to. Their last straw was broken by Akadu Mensema's diversionary bigot articles and that of yesterdays Adofo Rockstone's ...
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Whether Kola or Srpong Illiteracy Guru, you still manufacture grammatical bullets.
"Akadu Mensema's diversionary bigot articles"?
I WISH WE HAD A GOVT THAT WOULD NOT ROB US VIA WOYOME. THAT WAS NAKED ROBBERY WHICH MUST BE CONDEMNED BY ALL !!!!! A THIEVING GOVT CAN'T TAKE GHANA ANYWHERE !!!!!!!!
Hello Kofi,
I'm beginning to think that you've begun to be partisan. In any event, Nana Akufo Addo is about to COMMIT SUICIDE before his supporters, lawyers and the Lordships. All told, the petitioner's case has been OBLIT ...
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It seems to me Afari Djan's failure to file documentary evidence was part of the EC's prosecution strategy albeit a dangerous one. Whereas his exposé on elections is impressive, I believe he will have a tough time being dis ...
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Dr. Afari Djan is more intelligent than all the three petitioners and their counsels put together and in fact Kofi atah inclusive. For the same reason Atah kofi and his day-dreaming petitioners and their council thought the l ...
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I'm lost what are you trying to say ? Because you are putting two things together here
KOFI,FOR ONCE, I WANT TO DISAGREE WITH YOU ON YOUR SUBMISSION. WHEN DR AFARI-GYAN QUESTIONED THE FIGURE QUOTED BY DR BAWIMIA AS THOSE WHO WERE ONLY IDENTIFIED BY FACE ONLY [FOs] HE WAS EXPRESSING SHOCK AS TO HOW HE CAME BUY T ...
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INTERESTING ARTICLE AND ARGUMNENT. WHILE WE DO NOT KNOW WHOSE FIGURES ARE RIGHT, I BELIEVE, A REVIEW OF THE OINK SHEETS WILL ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ON THE FO VOTING. DR BAWUNIA NUMBER LOOKS LIKE A CALCULATED NUMBER FROM THE PIN ...
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Kofi I suppose you are one of those salivating for a juicy ministerial post in Nana Addo's cabinet soon to be established,eh???. Never mind you have a minority in parliament even though you are supposed to have won the electi ...
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Kofi Atta is a dyed in the wool NDC, having served in the previous PNDC administration. I don't like his pro NDC views most of the time but I can also appreciate some of his writings for his ingenuity. Kofi tries very hard to ...
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Yes, Ata Kofi the '2nd lead counsel' for the EC is telling Dr. Afari Gyan in disguise what he should prepare for to face the cross-examination from Mr. Addison. In other words, Ata Kofi is giving Dr. Afari Gyan all the 'apo' ...
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No matter the outcome of the election petition Dr. Afari Gyan's international and local reputation as one of the world's finest electoral commissioners will never remain the same again now that his job performance is under me ...
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However, remember that the FO group of voters are the only people that did not need the BVM,and the petitioners are are seeking to annul over 700,000 votes in this category, therefore even if all the 80,000 of such voters vot ...
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It is true one cannot pretend to be what he is not for long. Kofi try as were to be in the middle in your earlier write - ups, it is beginning to show your natural leneage to the right perhaps unconciousely. You can't cheat n ...
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What is cheeky about 'I don't know where he got that figure from'? Kwaseato,aburokyire nso yetena gyimi sei?
Some of those guys came by ndc means so allow them ,they are entitled to their opinion but it hurts when intelligence guy like Ata is blind and don't want to called spade a spade
CORRUPT,EMPTY HEAD,USELESS MAHAMA TO BENINGING TO THINK THAT HE DEGO K3K3,MAHAMA CAN NOT TAKE GHANA ANYWHERE,COLLAPSING GHANA,TOOOOO MUCH GANGATUA CORRUOTION,MORE DEPTS,MORE GAYS AS HIM AND VEEP,GOD SAVE GHANA PERIOD
Kofi, you are right and I am glad you have pointed out the issue of biometric verification which Dr Gyan clarified on examination. Most people missed the real definition of biomeric verification. At airports, when biometric i ...
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Paul, Prof Kuruk and I were the first to postulate on Ghanaweb that the "No Verification, No Vote" is unconstitutional because it contravenes the right to vote enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. It does not matter whether it ...
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Thank you. My point here is that even if you go by the CI 75, the EC has argued all along that people voted with verification (presumably biometric). however as you have explained, and as I have also previously argued, the in ...
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I disagree with both of you. The question which the Supreme Court would have to address is whether there were people who voted without biometric who were originally supposed to vote by biometric verification. If the response ...
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The protests that greeted Afari Djan'a participation in this court case after all the initial insults is
enough testimony that he will not only be smilling but also dancing after the case.
He has been fantastic, unlike Ba ...
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I made an exception to read haphazardly thru Kofi's piece, as I don't bother to read things on this ongoing circus, and just want to say this.
Knowing Dr Afari Djan as my former lecturer, I can say that always having a ch ...
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Kofi don't pretend as if you are making a point even illiterate after listening to Djan know how elections are been rigged in Ghana. Have you see a facial smiles before? I'm in Canada and I had numerous experiences buddy
Are you one of those "illiterates" you claim "know that the election was rigged"? And you are "sitting in Canada"? God truly help us!!! Why are we in court if "even illiterates know there was rigging"? You need to get away fr ...
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Good afternoon, Ady. What is wrong with been speculative and hypothetical? I appreciate that there are a number of unknown factors such as, how Mr Addison conducts his cross examination, whether when he objects to evidence be ...
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The import of some of the issues Ata Kofi bothers to raise in some his writings. Firstly,if the court had taken a prior decision to allow individuals or organizations to get evidence, what is really the point in making such a ...
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We are all waiting for the cross examination but I can bet Addison cannot ask the EC boss any intelligent question to make him 'screw up' his face as the writer wants to believe.
In posing your question, you seem to focus primarily on cross examination by counsel for the petitioners. Are counsels for 1st and 3rd respondents also allowed to cross examine the witness in this case? What's your take on th ...
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Paul, the answer to your question is a definite yes. However from what has transpired in court so far, lead counsels for first and third respondents' cross examination of witness/es for the 2nd respondent will not be adversar ...
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Yes, there is a clear pattern of "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" here hence my question. It will be interesting to see how things develop.
The fact that EC lawyers are working closely with NDC lawyers is so wrong I cannot understand why. Is there no conflict here?. I am not a lawyer and I need help because, Clearly the NDC is coniving with EC and I find this ver ...
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Congrats to Kofi Ata for succeeding in being classified as a sympathiser of both the Petitioners and the Respondents. To me that is a sign of his objectivity regardless of whose case he truly believes in
“My big question to Afari Gyan is, will he still be all smiles and cheeky in the witness box after Mr Addison has had his bite of the cherry with him?”
I find it very unbelievable that you should ask such a question. O ...
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I disagree with assertion that once the temporary election officers were trained they would not commit mistakes or trans-positional errors. Why come that some of a group of students who were taught by the same teacher failed. ...
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There are so many erroneous statements in this write up.For example to say that it is Afari Gyan who is disputing the figures so the onus will be on him to disprove bawumiah's figures,is strange to me.The EC has on official r ...
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Some men are dangerous.Do you want to tell us that Dr.Afari Gyan do not have anything to prove his case or what?.You have disgrace your knowledge here.How can he come to tell the whole world a story,are you mad,do not write n ...
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Alhaji, for your information, I did not say that Dr Afari Gyan does not have anything to prove what he been saying in court. Instead, I said the documentary evidence were not filed with the court in advance as was directed. T ...
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If Dr.Afari Gyan has any documentary evidence why didn,t he file it with the court as directed.A very big shame to him and the NDC Party.
This is a really good piece of work and I think responsible Ghanaians should think in the categories of Mr Ata instead of thoughtless ,nonsensical and partisan condemnations of serious thinking contributors.
Kofi, once again, that's a nice balanced piece. We are all waiting for the cross-examination of the EC Chairman. Unfortunately though the past performance of the lead counsel of the Petitioners in cross-examinations cannot be ...
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AUDITOR, from your contribution, I assume the EC adopted a deliberate strategy to surprise the petitioners. Even Dr Afari Gyan not swearing an affidavit and suddenly taking the witness box instead of his deputy who signed the ...
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Cannot say if this was deliberate but still cannot see what the downside for the EC is. First of all, deliberate or not, it has already had a major impact on the preparedness of the Petitioners.
Kofi, apologies for my sev ...
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Smart be 'cherry-picking' polling stations that,based on Bawumiah`s contrived analysis,would disproportionately 'hurt' John Mahama,and allow their candidate emerge the winner! As you have pointed alluded to earlier,the petiti ...
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The obligation of the EC in court is NOT to challenge Bawumia's inapplicable figures but rather to vigorously defend its own applicable figures which is in the gazette recognized by law. Second is your presupposition that an ...
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I seem to disagree with your position on Afari Gyan testifying without an Affidavit but needs your further clairification.
My opinion that the EC was sued as an organisation and my knowledge is that a legal person unlike a ...
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John, to some extent you are right that Afari Gyan represents the EC, which he heads. However, he is not giving evidence on the sworn affidavit/s of his two deputies but giving evidence in his own right. It is possible that o ...
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Auditor,
Your post makes very interesting reading. Dr Afari-Djan's definition of "over voting" will be interesting. Remember that that category alone throws the election into re-run, according to figures posted by the petiti ...
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Oh my God, the 4% is my estimate of human errors in completing ballot accounting forms. The case is actually a confusing one. The idea that even a genuine clerical or administratively error translates into vote is a novelty i ...
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Auditor,
I have just gone back to look at some officcial EC statistics:
Upper East: Registered No of Voters: 398,411
No of ballots issued: 1,679,295 or 321% extra ballot papers.
Upper West: Registered No of Voters: 26 ...
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Assuming without admitting that 400% more ballots were issued to the 3 regions instead of 10%, what is the proof that it led to more votes issued to one candidate to the detriment of the other candidate.
The court will no ...
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Oh you did not hear of Asiedu Nketia's "foreign material" claim? What did you think those foreign materials were? How about the resort to "administrative or transpositional errors?"
I sincerely hope the judges are more dis ...
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Kobena, I understand your point but note the following;
Asiedu Nketiah for lack of the appropriate expression said there were foreign material to be removed from the Box but what he really meant is that if the Total Ballot ...
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You don't believe that those "extra ballot papers" have any effect on the election? If at a certain polling station, 100 people were registered and 80 turned up to vote on the day and were given 80 ballot papers, 5 of which w ...
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We do have a full proof system so what happened here. Why are we getting different numbers on FO voters. I heard over 500000 FO votes from earlier admission. Now Afari Djan says the number is 80000. DR. bawumia. Tally from pi ...
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his smile will even be much bigger
Kofi,
This is an excellent piece. I am also waiting to hear how Dr Afari-Djan defines "over voting", his explanation for the duplicate polling stations whereby two or three results were declared for a single polling station ...
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Please note that Afari Gyan referred to transpositional errors committed at the Collation Centre but not at the Poliing Station or on Pink Sheets.
The errors referred to by the Petitioners all relate to polling station err ...
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Oh temporary staff for 20 years?
That is astonishing. Where has all the money gone then?
Do you not realise that the petitioners' case actually hinges on the activities at the polling stations, over voting (aka foreign ma ...
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This is waste of time at the Supreme Court.He should tell NPP that they will win the next election. I hope this will bring a closure to the whole nonsense.
Asking for directions of court which meant that Afari Gyan could not begin his testimony until its determination is a CLEAR LEGAL OBJECTION and I don't know why Kofi Atta is understating that fact. And I don't know whether Ko ...
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That is a good question but my worry is the lies that Afari Gyan told about and would continue about why he claimed questions on the pink sheets were not to be answered so why were they there?if he comes clean on these then i ...
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Bawumia shd put his finger in the ANUS of the PINK shits so he can locate his damn mother fucker TRUMULOUS evidence . Nonsense
Kofi, once more you have done a good job. You may not be completely right as you have not been able to fully follow the unravelling of this case but your article is thought provoking and has attracted a lot of intelligent res ...
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Kofi you are 100percent right and it's only the truth. But the way they are handling this court issue there is is hidden truth somewhere. I will advise that you always have to published your point of view before any SC procee ...
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Afari Djan will be the happiest man on earth after the Supreme Court vedict. lol
Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Much thanks again. Keep writing.