NDC heads to Supreme Court to challenge 2020 poll results

Ghana’s biggest opposition party – the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will formally file a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the outcome of the December 7, 2020, general elections.

The yet to be filed suit follows what the party believes is a manifestation of voter fraud and irregularities in the just-ended polls.

The party in a statement signed by the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the move is in line with the party’s “commitment to the upholding of the Constitution and respect for human rights.”

Despite the use of the court system to have their grievances addressed, the NDC says it will continue to hit the streets to protest the outcome of the elections.

“The NEC  decided that the NDC will contest the results of the rigged elections in the Supreme Court and other appropriate fora. In addition, the party will continue all legitimate actions, including protestations to press home its demands for the government of President Akufo-Addo to enforce the rule of law and protect life and property in Ghana, and in particular to take all necessary measures to bring to swift justice to those responsible for the murders and injuries and destruction of properties before, during and in the aftermath of the general elections”, the statement noted.

Sources say, private legal practitioner, Tsatsu Tsikata will be representing the NDC as the lead counsel to challenge the results.

Tsikata was lead counsel for the NDC during the first-ever election petition hearing after the then opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP) filed a suit challenging the results of 2012 polls.

Results of the election as announced by the Electoral Commission (EC) two days after the polls placed the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the lead with 6.7 million votes representing 51.3 percent while the NDC’s candidate,  John Dramani Mahama followed in the second position with 6.2 million votes representing 47.7 percent of valid votes cast.

However, the NDC has expressed its outright rejection of the results citing fraud amidst street protests and nationwide demonstrations.

Live telecast of proceedings

A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team, Abraham Amaliba in an earlier interview said the party will put in a request for a live broadcast of the hearing of their petition contesting the 2020 general elections in the Supreme Court as witnessed in 2012.

Mr. Amaliba told Citi News such a request will be in the interest of fairness.

“We expect to be treated fairly, this is a national issue. We also expect that if we are able to make our case beyond a reasonable doubt, I am sure that the Supreme court will hold that Nana Akufo-Addo did not attain the required 50 +1 votes.”

“Indeed, we also expect that the petition will be telecast live. Any attempt to hinder that will create the impression that the hearing is not going to be fair, so we will put in the request to have it telecast live,” he indicated.

Election petitions

This would be the second time the results of a presidential election is being challenged at the Supreme Court in Ghana’s 4th Republic.

The first time was in 2012 when the then opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) went to court to challenge the results of that year’s elections alleging various irregularities.