Election Petition: Supreme Court to hear John Mahama’s two applications, lawyers closing addresses

The Supreme Court is expected to hear two applications filed by former president John Dramani Mahama, the petitioner in the ongoing 2020 election petition trial.

The Petitioner’s two applications are stay proceedings (halt of the trial) and a review application of the Supreme Court’s decision delivered on 11 February 2021.

The Court on 11 February had unanimously held that it cannot compel the Electoral Commission chairperson Jean Mensa to testify as well as the witness of the second respondent (Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo)

Tsatsu Tsikata, the lead counsel for the petitioner is seeking a review of the decision by the Supreme Court reaffirming the stance of the first respondent (EC Chairperson) not to testify in the ongoing election petition.

Tsikata filed the review application on the grounds that the apex court of the land erred in law when it ruled that the EC boss cannot be compelled to testify.

According to the petitioner, the error of the Supreme Court has occasioned “a miscarriage of Justice.”

Tsikata wanted the Supreme Court to halt proceedings in order to hear the review application.

The Court is also expected on Thursday to listen to oral arguments of lawyers closing addresses.

The Supreme Court had ordered lawyers in the Election 2020 Petition trial to file their closing addresses simultaneously by Wednesday 17 February 2021.

The Court after hearing respective lawyers closing addresses would fix a date for judgment.

Mahama had gone to court challenging the validity of the Electoral Commission’s declaration that President Nana Addo Dankwa Addo is the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

The petitioner has also accused the Electoral Commission, the first respondent, of vote padding but the Commission has denied that assertion.