Election Petition: Supreme Court gives Mahama another chance to file witness statements

The NDC Flagbearer’s lawyers reluctance to file their witness statements as directed by the Supreme Court has gotten the judges infuriated.

Due to this, the Supreme Court says it will not hesitate to dismiss the 2020 election petition filed by former President John Dramani Mahama if he (Mahama) fails to comply with the court’s order to file his witness statement.

According to the seven-member panel of the apex court, before it listens to any further applications, it was imperative for the petitioner to obey its orders else it would invoke the sanctions under rule 69 which gives the court the power to dismiss the petition if the petitioner failed to comply with the order of the court.

This comes after Mr Mahama [petitioner], whose lawyers had told the court that they had five witnesses, failed to comply with the court’s order to file witnesses statements by Thursday, January 21, 2020 as ordered by the court.

Rather, the petitioner had settled to file for a stay of proceedings, to halt the processes of the court till the apex court review its interrogatories ruling not to allow the Electoral Commissioner to answer 12 key questions critical their case.

On the day the court was expected to start hearing the substantive case, Tsatsu Tsikata, the lead counsel for Mr Mahama was not in court as the huddle of lawyers introduced themselves.

He had been caught in traffic on the day those who matter in Ghana headed to the International Conference Centre in Accra to pay their last respect to the late former President J.J. Rawlings.

But Tony Lithur, who stood in for Mr Tsikata, had a reason for the failure to obey the court’s orders.

According to him, it was because the interrogatories ruling if granted would inform the kind of witness statements they petitioners will file.

But the judges would not have any of that.

The Supreme court had on Wednesday January 20, 2020 ordered the petitioner to file his witness statements by Thursday, January 21, 2020.

The Electoral Commission (1st respondent) and President Akufo-Addo (2nd respondent) was ordered by the court to file their witness statements by Friday, January, 22.

While the EC and President Akufo-Addo had filed their witness statements, Mr Mahama did not comply with the orders of the court.