The Bible says in Matthew 23:12, “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted”. During the recent past live telecast of the Supreme Court proceedings on Election 2012 petition, Justice Atuguba announced in full fury, “The Court has the power to deal mercilessly with anyone even including the President of Ghana. If you dare us, I shall show you where power lies by exercising fully the power the Constitution has conferred upon the Supreme Court”.
He was just bragging in an attempt to intimidate the petitioners and their supporters. Yes, it is an undeniable fact that a Supreme Court judge holds the power of death and life over an accused brought before him for trial depending on the circumstance and the gravity of the offence. However, in the instance that Atuguba issued his threatening warning, it was just an empty boasting directed at cowing the petitioners to enable him pronounce his intended most senseless verdict in the annals of Supreme Court judgments in Ghana if not in the world.
With the said powers, was it not the same Atuguba who said, "For starters I would state that the Judiciary in Ghana, like its counterparts in other jurisdictions, does not readily invalidate a public election, but often strives in the public interest, to sustain it”? Why does he have to toil to sustain election results that all evidential documents and witness cross-examination admissions indicate that it was rigged in favour of one person? If he had those limitless powers as he bluffed Ghanaians into believing he has, why could he not exercise them in the interest of justice, peace and to the convenience of the majority of the public?
Does he know that the majority of the public with learned lawyers, Law professors, academics and the ordinary persons in the street inclusive, find his judgment very erroneous? Most of these persons have questioned the rational behind the judgment. Some of the Law professors have even raised the stakes high to query his understanding of law and the Constitution.
His judgment has rendered meaningless the biometric verification machines Ghana government spent millions of US$ (American dollars) to import. He, by his bizarre verdict pronounced on Election 2012 has defeated the objective of the biometric registration of eligible voters. The objective was to erase multiple registrations and voting from Ghana elections. With such a verdict as declared by Atuguba, everyone can vote without going through biometric verification. What about his understanding of, and definition of over-voting as against the initially agreed definition by Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, before the elections?
He exalted himself, raised his shoulders and voice to play God all in a bid to rig the Court verdict in favour of John Mahama and the NDC. He was able to do that but what about the aftermath?
God has humbled Atuguba. Many people do not respect him any more. Many people do insult him on air and in the open public. Many people do curse him. That is the reward of a fool who tries to play God but gets humbled and disgraced.
He and his other panel members had the opportunity to save Ghana from electoral fraud, corruption, abuse of incumbency and other ills that denigrate the Ghanaian or the African but they rather chose to sustain such ills with magnificence.
Ghanaians are suffering because Atuguba in his warped wisdom chose to empower Mahama and his cronies to continue to embezzle public funds with impunity. How does the Supreme Court verdict impact on future public elections, please tell me, Atuguba, Adinyirah, Baffoe-Bonnie, Akoto-Bamfo and Sulley Gbagdegbe. Have you by your verdict done justice or injustice to Ghana and Ghanaians?
Ghanaians are now weeping because of the consistent attitude to steal with impunity by the Mahama NDC-led governmentthat has drained the coffers of the nation. Some workers are not getting their salaries all because of the stupid Court verdict that has empowered Mahama and his politically incompetent cronies to continue to empty the nation's coffers for their selfish use.
I shall end here to proceed to do something else. It serves Atuguba right to have been humbled by God. No intelligent person respects him anymore after the corrupt verdict he declared on Election 2012 petition.
Has he the balls to summon anyone before him for contempt of Court? He dare not to!
HATE ME IF YOU LIKE BUT IT MUST BE FOR A GOOD REASON!
I dedicate this article to my deceased brother Kwasi Ben who passed about a week ago. Kwasi, Damirefa due. Due, due ne amanehunu?
Rockson Adofo