2012 Election Petition Verdict, Matters Arising
The nine Supreme Court Judges think that the 2012 General Elections that took place in Ghana on 7th and 8th December 2012 were free and fair and as such there were no irregularities so the status-quo must be allowed to carry on. I will for that matter congratulate President Mahama for the refreshing assurance that he won the elections fairly. As an individual I may have divergent views from that of the seven judges who felt that the elections were credible.
What has happened in Ghana then? It means that for the next four years Mahama is the president of the republic but what worries me the most is the fact that, should there be aspects of truth in what the petitioners sought in court, now that the case has been dismissed,what remedies are there? I am a layman who knows little about law, does the ruling imply that there were no:
- Over voting during the elections at all?
- Voting without Biometric verification
- Non existent polling stations
- No signatures on the Pink Sheets by the returning officers.
Now, having refused the petition, though the full details are yet to be made public, does it mean during elections the Electoral Commission has the power and right to do whatever it pleases? I am sure this is a clear indication that the party in power can do whatever it likes during elections and get away with it. I am disappointed that when it mattered the Judges could not rise up to the occasion but chose the soft way of resolving the electoral issue. As I see it, it has now given licence to the electoral commission to even conduct elections in the bedrooms of the party in power without the slightest regard for the wishes and aspirations of Ghanaians.
Fellow Ghanaians the judges have spoken and they are human but the Bible expressly states that we should give respect to those appointed into power of authority, let us respect their verdict. If we wanted to do it our way, we could have done that without going to them in court. As much as some of us would have wished for a different outcome,let us accept this as the will of God. At times God allows certain things to happen so that the citizens will learn lessons they have failed to master. It is time to focus on things that can push the country forward, let us fight excesses in the use of power, let us be bold to confront corruption in all places of our society and let us be on top of the politicians by treating them as no better than us.
The Hard Work of making Ghana how we would like to be remembered when we are dead and gone should start on this fateful day the supreme court has indicated that we have the best electoral system, do I compare to that of Africa or Russia?
For you to isinuate that those allegations have been proven, for me , is very infortunate. Those 22 polling stations for instance are known – there are not unknown. The allegations of voting without biometric verification havent been proven either. I think it would very unfair to cancel votes merely on evidence adduced on the face of the pink sheet. There must be proper audit to find out the veracity of the claim. If one sends a claim of overvoting and loses, it doesnt mean that another person who sends a case to court on overvoting cannot win the case. It all depends on the kind of evidence one is able to present. So lets forge aheadwithout trying to pretend very clear incontrovetial evidence of the allegations were provideded and yet the judgement went aginst the petitioners.
Thanks, what do we do when it is a matter not scientifically determined? It is always open for debate which is what we are doing now.
Yes I agree with you hundred percent. Until we all get on board and pinpoint the lapses in the way things are done in Ghana, the electorate will always be short changed.
Thanks.
Hi sorry that it has to take all this while to give my response.
I agree with you in the sense that the umpires have given their
verdict and who am I to question it. I rather wish for the sake of the one
country we all claim to love, things should be done in a more transparent manner.
We are all looking to building a sustainable and prosperous Ghana you and I will be proud to call home.
Thanks.