Phillip Addison to contest Korlye Klottey seat

Lead counsel for Nana Akuffo-Addo, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey in the 2012 election petition case, Philip Addison, has expressed interest in contesting for the Korley Klottey constituency parliamentary seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2016 general elections.

Speaking on Oman FM, the lawyer did not dispute the rumours which have made the rounds about his political ambition when he concurred “yes I will contest for the seat.”

Many learnt for the first time during the programme about the outstanding lawyer’s affinity with Osu.

“I was born in Osu Kinkawe. My mother hails from Osu Kinkawe,” he told the host of the programme.

He, however, said he has to inform the executives of the party before a formal announcement to that effect as a mark of deference.

But for the radio station posing the question about his political intention, Mr Addison said he would have kept it to his chest until the ‘appropriate time’.

“Now that you have asked me all I have to say is yes I intend contesting,” he said.

The lawyer proved his legal mettle during his cross examination of Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan in the heat of the proceedings at the Supreme Court and won a lot of admirers from across the political spectrum.

He and Dr Bawumia became the iconic faces of the Supreme Court hearing and so when his name popped up as one of the possible contestants for the Korley Klottey constituency in the Greater Accra Region, the picture of the election petition hearing was played back in the memories of many.

Former Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Emile Short is skeptical about the success of the Attorney General decision to appeal the acquittal and discharge businessman, Alfred Woyome.

According to him, the AG is “unlikely to succeed” because it will not be given the opportunity to produce new evidence to back their claims.

The Attorney General, Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong has hinted their preparedness to retrieve the 51 million cedis fraudulently paid to Mr. Woyome.

This was after a High Court cleared him of all count of defrauding by false pretence and causing financial loss to the state for his role in the construction of stadia for the CAN 2008 tournament in Ghana.

But the Attorney General has assured the state will pursue the case at the Supreme Court to ensure Mr. Woyome refund the money.

Speaking on Citi FM Friday, Justice Emile Short said the decision to file for an appeal will be an exercise in futility.

He explained that, since Supreme Court will be bound by the evidence adduced in court which exonerated Alfred Woyome, the case will be dead on arrival.

The former CHRAJ boss could not fathom why state prosecutors failed to produce the material witnesses in court to help their case.

On the way forward, Justice Emile Short said the Attorney Generals department should be decoupled from the Ministry of Justice to ensure successful prosecution of cases.