Former President John Mahama says the proceedings in court during the election petition trial showed that there was a concerted effort that prevented the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) from accounting to Ghanaians.

Addressing the nation after the Supreme Court’s final verdict, he alluded to the fact that Mrs Mensa was aided by her counsel and the court to avoid accounting to Ghanaians and explaining her testimony.

The 2020 NDC Presidential Candidate, who sought a re-run of the election in the apex court, stated that the verdict is a "clear stab in the heart of transparency and accountability to the people of Ghana.

“Everything was done in this trial to prevent the Commission from accounting to the people in whose name they hold office. Requests for Interrogatories were dismissed. A request to inspect documents in the possession of the Commission was turned down. The request for admission of facts was ignored".

Mr Mahama said that the EC Chair’s testimony was an integral part of the court process to help establish the truth about the 2020 general elections.

“Ghanaians were hoping to hear her testify and many are still baffled by the refusal of Mrs Jean Mensa to be held to account by testifying in this case – unfortunately, with the unanimous agreement of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana.” 

He added that the EC Chair’s refusal to testify has also deepened the doubts some Ghanaians harboured about the true outcome of the elections

Mr Mahama stated that the failure of the Supreme Court to allow Jean Mensa to testify leaves an embarrassing stain on the country’s electoral and justice systems.

His comment comes after a seven-member panel of Supreme Court Judges in a unanimous decision, on March 4, dismissed the election petition he filed to challenge the validity of results and the declaration of President Akufo-Addo as the winner of the 2020 polls.

This, according to the apex court, is because the case before it has no merit and as such will not order a re-run of the election as the petitioner sought.

Reading the ruling of the court today, Chief Justice Anin Yeboah said the petitioner did not satisfy all the 5 issues outlined by the court to determine the case.

However, John Mahama said he disagrees with the court process and the ruling stating that the refusal of the EC Chairperson to testify in the election petition, leaves a bad precedent for the future.

“I do really worry about this dangerous precedent – that may allow other heads of state institutions to adopt an approach of opacity and non-accountability in their work."

"Just because they can rely on unconvincing interpretations of our laws to shield them from scrutiny in the near future.”

He urged members of the NDC to keep their hope alive regardless of the outcome adding that the party will need to work hard for the next election.

He said that party members should be law-abiding and do nothing to compromise the stability of the country.

“I am confident that out of the ashes of this legal setback, we will mobilize and rekindle the struggle for a better democratic Ghana.”