Mahama Louds Akufo Addo

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Nana Mahama-In Election Petition Case

Contrary to accusations by functionaries of his National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the defeated Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo intends to use the ongoing landmark case at the Supreme Court to put a spanner in the current administration and also destabilizes the peace of the country, President John DramaniMahama has rather given thumps-upto the opposition leaders? resort to the law court.

In a clear departure from his party?s position, Mr. Mahama hailed the move by Nana Akufo-Addo to challenge the results of the last election that elected him as president at the superior court of the land, saying the court case will consolidate, rather than jeopardize the country?sfledgling democracy.

Even, whiles admitting nothing untoward happened at the last election to have warranted its outcome being challenged in court, President John Mahama, lauded the court hearing, stressing that, it is not an avenue to create a staid distraction to Ghana?s democracy as being suggestedby some political actors.

Speaking at a meeting with Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his entourage at the Flagstaff House last Friday, President Mahamastated that ?People think the nation is being buffeted by some uncertainty as a result of this court case; I do think that, it strengthens our democracy.?

Whiles exuding confidence over his victory and casting doubts about Nana Akufo-Addo?s claims that the last election was manipulated to favor him, President Mahama noted that ?Even though we had a dispute or somebody contests the results of the election, he has decided to go to court and we are giving the court the opportunity to listen to his grievance to find out whether it is genuine or not, and I think that it goes to strengthen our democracy, that Ghana continues to show the way in terms of good governance and democracy and constitutional rule of law.?

Nana Akufo-Addotogether with his 2012 running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and NPP chairman, Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey have petitioned the Supreme Court to among other things annul some four million votes from the results of the last election.

According to the three petitioners, the last election was fraught with wild irregularities that denied Nana Akufo-Addo the presidency; hence the Supreme Court should annul such colossal amount of votes to declare the opposition leader president.

This move was highly criticized by leading functionaries of the ruling party and described as a ploy by leaders of the NPP, especially Nana Akufo-Addo to create mass disaffection for the government and make it unpopular.

The NDC?s position is said to have been enforced by the comments made by the top brass of the NPP, particularly KwadwoOwusuAfriyie, the General Secretary who, immediately after the results of the last election was announcedsaid ?the NPP will make the country ungovernable for President Mahama.?

Some kingpins of the NDC have also argued that, Nana Akufo-Addo wants to use the court case as a vehicle to achieve his ?all-die-be-die? mantra that he trumpeted prior to the last election, and also to follow the footsteps of the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition of disputing every election result that goes against them since 1951.

But in the midst of this strong stance taken by members of the ruling party regarding the court case, President Mahama made nonsense of all the claims by his party fellows, and rather was in full admiration for Nana Akufo-Addofor resorting to the courtsto have his grievances addressed.

The President seized the opportunity to assure the Asantehene of government?s commitment to restore calm in the Ashanti Region, adding that, the security agencies are on top of the issue and in due time, miscreants behind the unfortunate happenings in the country?s second largest city will be brought to book.

Source:?A. A. Yayra (The Al-Hajj)

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