Election 2020 Petition: Telecast live proceedings in the spirit of transparency - CSOs to Supreme Court
Some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) championing issues of free, fair and transparent elections in the country are praying the Supreme Court of Ghana, the highest judicial body of the land to do the honour and diligence to all Ghanaians by ensuring that the proceedings of the 2020 elections petitions brought up by the NDC are telecasted live to the viewing of the public to engender transparency and fairness.
Ghana’s relatively peaceful election on December 7, 2020, saw incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) declared the winner with 51.59% of the vote, ahead of the main challenger, former President John Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who received 47.3%.
While defeated candidates normally concede in Ghana, Mahama on Wednesday petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the results saying incumbent Akufo-Addo’s win was illegal.
Mr Mahama argues that the results declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) which saw the incumbent emerge victoriously was ‘flawed and fictionalized’ because no candidate secured the required number of votes to be declared the winner.
Pending the hearing of the case which is expected by next week, the CSOs in a joint petition dated December 30, 2020, co-signed by the leadership of Care For Free and Fair Elections Ghana (“CARE GHANA”), Alliance of Feminist CSOs (AFCSOs) and the African Center for Health Policy Research Analysis humbly appealed to the office of the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, His Lordship Justice Anin-Yeboah to consider their request and ensure that the court hearings are broadcasted live on state-owned television and radio to the viewing of the Ghanaian public for the sake of fairness, transparency and accountability.
“That is the spirit of transparency, fair play, and the precedent set in the Election Petition, we humbly ask for the proceedings of the 2020 Presidential Election Petition before the Apex Court of the land to be broadcast live on State-owned Television and Radio”, the joint petition partly reads.
- Barker-Vormawor slams Chief Justice Torkornoo, former CJ Anin-Yeboah over SALL injustice
- NDC cabal orchestrated Mahama’s 2020 election defeat – Ex-NDC presidential hopeful
- Stephen Atubiga discloses alleged meeting at Rawlings' house to stop Mahama from contesting in 2020 elections
- Mahama’s family member was sponsoring Joshua Alabi's presidential bid in 2020 – Leading NDC member
- EC served others waakye, jollof in strongroom; I only took tea – Rojo Mettle-Nunoo
- Read all related articles