Audio By Carbonatix
A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has on Joy FM's Top Story, accused the Electoral Commission of hiding evidence from the court in an attempt to surprise the witness in chief of the petitioners who are challenging the results of the 2012 general elections.
Yaw Boabeng Asamoah said the EC was "in a sense" hiding evidence because its lawyer, Quarshie Idun sought to "tender in evidence through the opponent [Dr. Bawumia]" and not through the "mode of trial" established by the Presiding Judge William Atuguba.
He said although the petitioners had early on applied to obtain 26,000 pink sheets from the EC, the Commission "flatly refused".
Instead the EC filed a mere "four-paged affidavit" as a response to the petitioners. Their affidavit also had no pink sheets, he said.
"What stops you [EC] from exhibiting all of them [pink sheets used for special voting]?",he wondered.
The NPP lawyer summarized the "mode of trial" issued by Presiding Judge.It was to "come by affidavits, put it on paper, don't surprise anybody". This he thought was "clear".
But lawyer Victor Adawudu of National Democratic Congress (NDC) thought differently. The EC was not hiding anything. From his point of view, that should be clear enough to Mr. Boabeng Asamoah.
Adawudu echoed comments by NDC lawyer, Tsatsu Tsikata. He said the document tendered by counsel for E.C was "original".
Early on in court, lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata suggested the petitioners had submitted in court "same pink sheets" with "different signatures". He claimed one of those duplicate documents "must be a forgery".
He argued that Quarshie Idun, counsel for second respondent tried to submit original documents as evidence through the witness to "cure" a "possible case of fraud". He thought it was not prudent to "rely" on the "evidence of your opponent".
Victor Adawudu also debunked suggestions that Quarshie Idun together with lawyers, Lithur and Tsatsu Tsikata,were "ganging up against one person [Dr. Bawumia]".
This amounted to "crying more than the bereaved".
The NDC lawyer offered a quick lesson on the law. Lawyers,Lithur and Tsatsu as "parties to the suit" had more rights than one, he said. It included the " right to objection, cross examine and lead evidence".
And he reminded everyone of the precious and prized position of the second respondent in the election petition, EC. The "respondent don't have anything to prove", he submitted.
But despite disagreements,both counsels found a place to agree. For the first time, they used the same phrase to describe the pace of the trial. "Yes", the court was making "good progress".
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Dr Abu Sakara urges African youth to lead economic freedom
4 minutes -
24-Hour Economy mobilises GH¢1bn for poultry value-chain transformation
10 minutes -
From working in his room to building a business group – Michael Bartlett-Vanderpuye’s journey
11 minutes -
SOEs dividend contributions fall 45.5% in 2025- Report
18 minutes -
DBG steps up textile industry financing with new investor-ready projects
22 minutes -
GPL: Hearts make emphatic winning start, Debibi United hold Kotoko
24 minutes -
Middle East conflict disrupts Ghana’s gold exports as first-half volumes dip
41 minutes -
BoG to roll out crypto guidelines soon, clear path for licensing – Asiama
57 minutes -
DBG lines up textile deals for credit approval, disbursement before year-end
1 hour -
DBG channels billions into businesses private banks struggle to finance
1 hour -
Provident Insurance’s Ellen Amihere named Claims Professional of the Year
2 hours -
Kenya’s president orders Tata Chemicals to end operations in the country
2 hours -
Nigeria’s SEC approves about $1.6bn Dangote Refinery IPO
2 hours -
Gold eases as robust US payrolls boost rate-hike bets; inflation data in focus
2 hours -
Nigeria’s Dangote says refinery IPO to open within days
2 hours